Cultural / Najdi Doors: A Craft Preserving Heritage Identity in Hail Popular Market

Hail, 03 Safar 1448 AH corresponding to July 17, 2026, SPA -- In a corner of Hail Popular Market, the features of traditional architecture of the Hail region are embodied through Najdi wooden doors (executed in the Haili style) and heritage models skillfully crafted by the artist and handicraft trainer Abdullah Al-Khazam, who has dedicated many years to reviving traditional crafts, preserving their authentic details, and passing on his expertise to his sons and daughters, reflecting the sustainability of the craft heritage and enhancing its presence among new generations, offering visitors to the market an experience that evokes the history of old houses and markets in the region. Al-Khazam relies in his works on tamarisk wood and other local woods, which are cut twice a year to maintain their quality and durability, before undergoing stages of shaping, measuring, and manual carving, using traditional tools and precise techniques in engraving, drawing, and coloring, so that his works maintain the visual identity of traditional architecture, and its characteristics of durability, precision in execution, and beauty in decoration. Al-Khazam explained that among his works is the Haili door, characterized by its sturdy construction based on four main wooden beams that give it strength and stability, adorned with rows of iron nails with round heads, along with geometric decorations and manual engravings varying between triangles, squares, and symmetrical lines, with a traditional wooden lock known as "Al-Dabba" in the middle, and an iron handle embodying the authentic character of old doors. Najdi doors are distinguished by the beauty of their design and details, as they are often made of three wooden beams, dominated by hand-carved decorations and earthy colors inspired by the local environment, in a harmony that combines aesthetic value and practical function, becoming one of the most prominent features of traditional architecture in Najd. Al-Khazam's works are not limited to making heritage doors, but extend to producing wooden models simulating details of daily life in the past, including the pulley used to extract water from wells, the saddle placed on the backs of camels, traditional wooden locks "Al-Dabba", in addition to miniature models of mud houses and heritage landmarks, contributing to documenting the cultural heritage and highlighting aspects of social and economic life that the region has known over the decades. He stated that he demonstrates the stages of manufacturing his works to visitors of all ages, introducing them to the types of wood used and the methods of carving and traditional decoration, in an interactive experience that enhances awareness of the value of handicrafts as a component of national identity, and contributes to transferring craft expertise and maintaining its sustainability. Al-Khazam's pavilion in Hail Popular Market constitutes a destination for those interested in heritage and handicrafts, for what it offers of works combining authenticity and creativity, contributing to highlighting the architectural and cultural heritage of the Hail region, and introducing visitors to the arts of Haili and Najdi door making, which still retain their status as one of the most prominent symbols of traditional architecture in the Kingdom, and a living witness to the authenticity of Saudi cultural heritage and its continued presence in the contemporary craft scene. // End //14:55 T M 0073