Venue
Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia
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Taif Rose Festival guide
Damask rose harvest in the Taif highlands.
In short
Travellers who enjoy farms, scent and markets can catch the Taif Rose Festival during the short picking season, expected in early to mid April 2027, though no dates are out yet. Organised by the Ministry of Culture with Taif Municipality, it offers farm visits, distilling demonstrations and markets in the mountains around Taif. Confirm dates before booking.
Every spring the damask roses on the mountain farms around Taif, a highland city about 1,880 m up in western Saudi Arabia, are picked over a few short weeks. The Taif Rose Festival follows that harvest with farm visits, distilling demonstrations and markets. The 2027 edition is expected in early to mid April; no dates are out yet.
The format has grown. In 2026 the festival ran as the second Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum, from 29 March to 11 April, with about 80 activities and 15 dialogue sessions. The Ministry of Culture organises it with Taif Municipality.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Where: Taif, Saudi Arabia
Held: Every year
Type of event: Cultural Events, Folk Festival, Fair
Currency: Saudi riyal (SAR, SR)
Time zone: Arabia Standard Time, UTC+3
Language: Arabic
Map
Close to the venue
- Shubra Palace Attraction · 1.5 km
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
Likely dates after Ramadan in 2027
The first forum edition, in April 2025, drew more than 350,000 visitors. Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr should be over by mid March 2027, which leaves room for a similar early April slot. Check with the Ministry of Culture or Visit Saudi a few weeks before you travel.
The rose farms of Al-Hada and Al-Shafa
Events spread across Taif and the farming villages above it. The rose farms cling to the slopes around Al-Hada and Al-Shafa, at roughly 2,000 to 2,500 m, where the cooler air suits the flowers. Highway 15, a winding mountain road, links Al-Hada with the city.
Back in town, the House of Artisans is the place to shop for local crafts and rose products.
Farm tours, distilling and festival events
- Farm visits
- early-morning tours to watch the pickers, who work before the day heats up.
- Distilling
- traditional copper-pot stills turning petals into rose oil and rosewater.
- Rose souk
- stalls of petals, oil, rosewater and perfume.
- Shows and workshops
- flower carpets, street performers, theatre and music, plus hands-on sessions.
- Talks
- a forum strand, added in 2025, on investment, science and tourism in the rose trade.
Taif's rose heritage and UNESCO recognition
Taif has long been called the City of Roses, and its oil goes into perfumes sold well beyond Saudi Arabia. In 2024 UNESCO added the cultural practices around the Taif rose to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Production is climbing fast. A state rural programme reports 960 million roses a year from the farms it supports.
Flying to Taif or driving from Jeddah
Taif International Airport (TIF) is about 27 km from the centre, around 1 hour 40 minutes by air from Riyadh. Driving from Jeddah takes about 2 hours via Mecca for Muslims. Non-Muslims may not enter Mecca and must use a longer bypass, closer to 3 hours.
Mornings at this altitude are cool in spring; pack a light jacket. If the holy cities are part of the same trip, see our guide to places to visit in Mecca, and for the rest of the country our list of places to visit in Saudi Arabia.
What happens on the day
- Early morning
Farm visits
Pickers gather the blooms in the cool hours before the day warms up.
- Daytime
Activities and talks
In 2026 the forum offered about 80 activities and 15 dialogue sessions.
- Afternoon
Markets
Rosewater and rose oil in the city's markets.
Timing a visit to the short rose harvest
The rose harvest is short, so timing is everything. Official dates usually appear only a few weeks before the event, so confirm them through Visit Saudi or the Ministry of Culture before booking flights.
Taif's damask rose and the perfume houses that buy its oil
Taif has long carried the nickname City of Roses. Its fragrant damask rose is grown on mountain farms, and perfume houses such as Chanel, Guerlain and Hermès use its oil. In 2024 the Taif rose was added to a UNESCO list recognising intangible cultural heritage, and a state rural programme reports 960 million roses a year from the farms it backs.
At the festival you can watch petals turned into rose oil and rosewater in traditional copper stills, browse a rose souk of petals and perfumes, and catch flower carpets, street shows, theatre, music and workshops. Since 2025 a forum strand has covered investment, science and tourism.
Getting there
Before you fly
Check entry rules on our Saudi Arabia visa page.
By air
Taif International Airport (TIF) is about 27 km from the centre; flights from Riyadh take around 1 hour 40 minutes.
From Jeddah
About 2 hours through Mecca, but non-Muslims cannot enter Mecca and must use a longer bypass of about 3 hours.
To the farms
Highway 15, a winding mountain road, connects Al-Hada with the city.
Where to stay during the festival
Book once the dates are announced, which usually happens only a few weeks before. A base in the city keeps you close to the markets, with an early drive up to the farms.
Weather and what to pack
At Taif's altitude, spring is far milder than the lowlands. April days average about 31°C, while nights fall to around 16°C, so mornings on the farms are cool. The higher slopes around Al-Hada are cooler still.
Worth packing
- A light jacket for early mornings
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- Modest clothes
- Room in your bag for rosewater
Car hire in Taif
Airport transfer to Taif Rose Festival
Met at arrivals at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) and driven door to door to Taif.
- King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) → Taif
- 182 km · 2 hr 30 min
Restaurants and food in Saudi Arabia
Places to eat in Saudi Arabia before or after the celebrations.
Maraya Social
Rooftop, Maraya Concert Hall, Ashar Valley, Al Otheeb 43536, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:Modern EuropeanSharing plates
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
- Bar
Al Basali Seafood
Suq Bab Makkah, Al Balad, Jeddah 22236, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SeafoodHejazi
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
Kuuru
Al Malik Road, Al Khalidiyyah, Jeddah 23422, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:JapanesePeruvian
- Dine-in
- Counter seating
- Bar
Marble
Turki Square, Makkah Al Mukarramah Branch Road, Umm Al Hamam Al Sharqi, Riyadh 12321, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SteakhouseBarbecue
- Dine-in
Najd Village
Al Olaya, King Fahd District, Riyadh 12262, Saudi Arabia
Cuisine:SaudiNajdi
- Dine-in
- Private room
- Outdoor seating
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Need help?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Booking
Many festival events have been free, with some requiring online registration. Farm tours and distillery visits may charge a small fee, so check the programme once dates are released.
Published estimates vary widely depending on how they are counted: official and press figures put the farms at somewhere between about 850 and 900-plus, and the annual harvest at anywhere from around 120 million to more than 500 million flowers. Most of the crop goes into rosewater and oil.
General
Yes. Several family farms around Al-Hada and Al-Shafa welcome visitors to watch rose oil being distilled in traditional copper stills. Early morning is best, while picking and distilling are under way.
Buy direct from a farm or a long-established perfumer, ask about the year's harvest and be wary of bargain prices. Real oil has a deep, rich smell and is sold in tiny quantities.
It is a damask rose with a strong scent and around 30 petals. The cool, high climate gives an oil prized by perfumers, and some of the rosewater is used at the Kaaba in Mecca.
The Shubra Palace, the Al-Hada cable car, Souq Okaz and the Al-Rudaf park are popular. Taif is also known for its pomegranates, figs and honey.
Farms are usually happy for visitors to take photos of the fields and stills. Ask before photographing workers, and keep to paths so you don't damage the bushes.
Rosewater, rose oil and rose-scented soaps and creams are the classics. Rose jam and rose syrup make good gifts and travel easily.
Prices & payment
Pure Taif rose oil is among the most expensive oils in the world. Producers and press reports put the yield at roughly 10,000 to 15,000 roses for a single tola (about 12 ml), depending on the farm. Rosewater is inexpensive, while pure oil sells at high prices, so buy from known farms or reputable shops.
Families & accessibility
Yes. Children enjoy the farms, flower displays and craft activities. Mountain roads are winding, so bring travel sickness remedies if anyone needs them.
Timing & weather
The peak usually falls between late March and late April, depending on the weather. Visit early in the morning, when the flowers are freshest and picking is in full swing.