As part of Vision 2030’s Year of Handicrafts 2025, the Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF) has launched the Nama’ Accelerators: Handicrafts Track, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Quality of Life Program. Announced on 22 May 2025, the programme is designed to uplift micro, small, and medium-sized cultural businesses working across 11 traditional craft categories, including pottery, textiles, embroidery, leather, woodworking, metalwork, and palm weaving.
Transforming Tradition into Sustainable Business
The Nama’ Accelerators are more than a training programme, they represent a holistic ecosystem for artisans. Participants benefit from:
- Skills development in modern craft techniques
- Intensive workshops on business management and marketing
- Expert mentorship and networking opportunities
- Targeted financial incentives and access to global markets
The aim is clear: to convert heritage crafts into sustainable and scalable ventures that empower communities, spark innovation, and keep national identity at the heart of creative enterprise. By bridging the gap between traditional skills and modern business needs, the initiative ensures that Saudi artisans are equipped not only to preserve their craft, but to thrive as entrepreneurs.
A Global Stage: Selfridges London Pop-up
From 3 to 22 June 2025, Saudi craftsmanship was celebrated on an international platform through a vibrant pop-up at Selfridges in London, curated by the CDF in collaboration with Turquoise Mountain.
The showcase featured:
- Palm weaving, beadwork, leather goods, and jewellery
- Designs inspired by Saudi Arabia’s landscapes and architectural heritage
- Pieces created from locally sourced, sustainable materials
The event was more than a retail experience, it was a cultural statement. It highlighted the economic and artistic dynamism of Saudi handicrafts while connecting artisans to new audiences and markets. Running alongside the pop-up was a fashion activation by the Saudi Fashion Commission, featuring designers from the Saudi 100 Brands programme and CDF-backed creatives.
Reflecting on the moment, Majed Al-Hogail, CEO of CDF, called the collaboration “a defining moment for the Kingdom’s cultural economy.” Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, described it as “more than retail, it marks a new era for Saudi fashion, from Riyadh to London.”
Aligning Vision, Culture, and Community
Founded in 2021 under the Saudi National Development Fund, the CDF is a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s cultural transformation. Its mission is to enrich Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape through financing, expertise, and capacity building. The Nama’ Accelerators sit firmly within this vision, helping artisans grow businesses that are resilient, innovative, and globally competitive.
The synergy between the accelerator programme and the Selfridges showcase captures the essence of Saudi Arabia’s cultural strategy:
- Build capacity at home through training, mentorship, and financial support.
- Showcase creativity abroad, placing artisans on the global stage.
- Strengthen cultural pillars of heritage, innovation, visibility, and economic opportunity.
This is more than policy in action, it’s a living example of how tradition can be reimagined for contemporary contexts while staying rooted in cultural identity. In the Year of Handicrafts, Saudi Arabia is not only preserving its heritage but transforming it into a driver of creativity, community, and economic growth.
