AmericanBadu
Blog about the natural & cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia
about
I’m Joshua Van Alstine — an American writer and researcher living and working in Saudi Arabia. I document the natural and cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula, from Bedouin traditions to desert ecology, camel racing, falconry, and ancient history.
Category: Uncategorized
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By Joshua Van Alstine The shemagh (الشماغ) is Arabian. Not Arabian in the sense of cultural association or political symbolism, but Arabian in the oldest and most precise sense: it emerged from the civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula and the Mesopotamian river basin, was shaped by the ecology and social structures of desert pastoral life…
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Bahraini artist Maryam AlJomairi’s Flexible Fabric and broader architectural research highlight a growing shift toward nature-inspired design, positioning her work as a blueprint for the future of biomimetic architecture. As an architect, researcher, and designer, she not only introduces novel materials and responsive systems but also sets a precedent for how future generations might rethink…
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Numbers can tell stories if we listen closely. The latest figures on Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage—9,119 registered archaeological sites, 28,000 registered urban heritage sites, 8,644 artisans under the Commission, 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and 16 cultural heritage elements inscribed with UNESCO—are not simply data points. They are signposts in an ongoing national project to…
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The historic Taif Camel Racing Track hosted the grand finale of the 7th edition of the Crown Prince Camel Festival, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Organized by the Saudi Camel Federation, the closing ceremony was attended by His Royal…
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Taif, Saudi Arabia – The seventh day of the Crown Prince Camel Festival 2025 delivered another powerful performance from Saudi Arabia, as local camels swept to victory in the Jidhāʿ (جذاع – jidhāʿ, two-year-old camels) category. Out of the 22 heats staged on Monday, Saudi camels claimed 15 first-place finishes, reaffirming their dominance in one…
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Taif – September 6, 2025 The Crown Prince Camel Festival 2025 entered its fourth day with Saudi Arabia extending its dominance in the Laqāyā (لقايا – laqāyā, camels around 3 years old) category, while experts and officials highlighted the cultural and global significance of the event. Saudi Sweep in Laqāyā Saudi-owned camels stormed through the Laqāyā…
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Ajeeb storms to victory as ḥaqāyq (حقايق – ḥaqāyq, 2-year-olds) finals conclude in Taif The third day of the Crown Prince Camel Festival 2025 in Taif ended with a spectacular finish, as Saudi-owned camel “Ajeeb” (عجيب), trained by Salman Ubayd Al-Dosari, clinched the Colts (قعدان – qaʿdān, young males) Cup (ʿĀm – General) with an…
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Taif, Saudi Arabia — The second day of the Crown Prince Camel Festival 2025 at the historic Taif racecourse confirmed what fans already suspected: Saudi camels are in unstoppable form. Competing in the ḥaqāyq (haqaiq, “yearling”) category, Saudi stables claimed 20 of the 31 heats, pushing their total wins in the opening days to 45…
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Abutilon hirtum—the softly bristled “Indian mallow”—is one of the hardiest sub-shrubs in the Arabian Peninsula, freckling rocky wadis from the Najd plateau down to Jazan. Its velvet‐textured leaves and orange-gold corollas endure searing heat and months without rain, traits that let it colonise seasonally dry tropical biomes across Africa-to-Indonesia and “many different areas in Saudi…
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In the sandstone valleys of AlUla, the moringa is more than a tree—it’s a survivor, a healer, and a muse. With over 53,000 trees dotting the region, this native species produces over 130 tons annually, flourishing under conditions that would wilt most life. Oil pressed from the seeds of Moringa peregrina—has long held a central…