Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, center, poses with participants for a photograph after inaugurating Souq Okaz Festival

Souk Okaz has organized a beauty contest and race for Arabian horses on Saturday, it was announced here on Friday.

This is one of many highlights at the top tourist attraction. There have already been performances of the Ardah dance by the Bahra and Renia folklore teams, with 100 artists, on Friday.

Teams from the governorates of Al-Laith and Al-Turba will participate in the folklore contest on Saturday. The two teams will have 120 artists and art forms from the past.

A 100-meter cloth has been set out for visitors to pray for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and write down their feelings of patriotism and loyalty to their leaders. Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, chairman of the organizing committee, set out the cloth on Thursday.

Saturday’s cultural programs include a seminar on the works of the famous classical poet Amr bin Khulthum, with poets and critics Ayman Maidan and Muhammad Al-Makki participating. Poets Muhammad Al-Hijazi and Hind Al-Motairi, Muhammad Al-Omri and Saniya Al-Farjani are among the participants.

The King Abdul Aziz Library has 3,000 paper books and 2,000 e-books at the fair. The mobile library has served 120,000 people since it was launched.

An attraction at the fair is a photographic exhibition called Colors of History, which showcases the history of the Kingdom from the founding by King Abdul Aziz to the recent achievements of King Abdullah.

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