Villages Painted by Women Across the Middle East & North Africa
Across MENA, women once painted their villages in color, covering their walls in symbols of protection, joy, and memory.
Across the Middle East and North Africa, some villages wear their stories in colour, painted not by professional artists, but by women whose hands turned homes into canvases.
From the stone houses of Saudi Arabia’s Asir to the salt-brick dwellings of Egypt’s Siwa, women brushed walls with symbols of protection, joy, and identity.
These painted traditions transformed everyday spaces into living artworks, leaving behind these stunning villages where colour carries memory and meaning.
Rijal Alma, Saudi Arabia
Stone houses in the Asir mountains glow with Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a geometric art form painted by women in dazzling reds, blues, and greens. Recognised by UNESCO, the tradition carries blessings, identity, and a rhythm that turns homes into living patterns.
Gharb Soheil, Aswan, Egypt
Matmata, Tunisia
Tiznit & the Anti-Atlas, Morocco
Al-Hajjarah, Haraz Mountains, Yemen
Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Villages of Ouarzazate, Morocco
Tamegroute, Draa Valley, Morocco
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Oct 29, 2025
