Golf, culture, and the spirit of competition come together at Riyadh Golf Club Images courtesy of PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers Riyadh Golf Club felt alive this week as the 2025 PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers returned for its seventh edition and its second year in the capital. The tournament arrives as part of the WOW Festival during Riyadh Season, a celebration that blends golf, cars, and entertainment into one dynamic experience. The atmosphere is festive and the field is stacked with some of the biggest names in the sport. This year’s tournament feels larger in scope and deeper in competitive strength. The numbers tell their own story. Seven major winners with nine titles between them. Forty six Asian Tour winners with more than a hundred victories. All of the top ten players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Eighteen LIV Golf winners with thirty three titles. Thirty three nationalities represented. Five past champions. A record group of seven Saudi players teeing it up on home ground: Othman Al Mulla, Saud Al Sharif, Shergo Al Kurdi, Khalid Attieh, Faisal Salhab, Prince Khalid Saud Al Faisel, and Khalid Alqunaibit. For fans, the competition is magnetic. For Saudi golf, it is a milestone. Returning champions and rising voices Defending champion Joaquin Niemann arrived confident and calm, reflecting on the form he brings into the week. “I feel like the game is in a good spot. I feel like I am working in the right direction,” he said, crediting the changes he has made to his team and the support surrounding him. He was equally struck by the improvements to the course. “I want to congratulate what Golf Saudi has made on the improvements on this golf course. The conditions are unbelievable,” he said. The greens are rolling true and the rough is longer, adding a new layer of challenge. The conditions hint at a week where precision will matter and momentum may shift quickly. Niemann also spoke about the new energy around the event, shaped by the WOW Festival and Riyadh Season. He noted how the experience blends families, newcomers, and golf fans through concerts, car showcases, and festival programming. “Golf is a pretty new sport for them here. Bringing in all the fans, making it a festival, car shows, I feel like it is going to bring a similar crowd that golf needs,” he said. Familiar champions return Two time champion Dustin Johnson, a player who always draws attention, kept his assessment simple. “I have still got a lot of work to do. But I am seeing a lot of good signs,” he said. His presence alone adds weight to the field and the crowd response each year reminds everyone how popular he remains in Saudi Arabia. Harold Varner III, the 2022 champion, praised the conditions with characteristic ease. “It is in great shape,” he said. “They have done a terrific job of always improving every time we get here.” A big week for the home players For the Saudi players, this event carries pride and possibility. Riyadh native Saud Al Sharif spoke openly about what the week means to him. “I am very excited. It is the seventh event and the sixth time I have played here. Now that it is in Riyadh, it is even bigger for me,” he said. With family, friends, and a growing home crowd behind him, he sees this moment as a chance to show the city what the future of Saudi golf looks like. For Faisal Salhab and the rest of the Saudi contingent, the opportunity to compete alongside major winners and global stars is both challenge and inspiration. Their presence reflects the rapid development of the sport in the Kingdom and the investment in nurturing a generation of homegrown competitors. A tournament that reflects a new era As Riyadh Golf Club hosts once again, the sense of momentum is clear. The field is deep. The course is in pristine condition. The festival atmosphere opens golf to wider audiences. And with a record seven Saudi players in the field, this edition feels like a moment that will shape the next chapter of the sport’s growth in the Kingdom. The PIF Saudi International is more than a championship. It is a snapshot of ambition, talent, and a city that continues to expand what sporting excellence can look like.

A Night Where Sound Met Style In a luminous evening at Kimpton KAFD Riyadh, Saudi singer-songwriter Tamtam took the stage to celebrate the release of her latest album Ma’asalama Side B . The hotel that welcomed her is itself a signal of new beginnings, the first Kimpton in the Middle East and the first lifestyle hotel in the heart of KAFD. Bridging worlds through music Tamtam grew up in Saudi Arabia and now works between Riyadh and Los Angeles, positioning herself at the intersection of cultures, languages and sound. Her music weaves Arabic and English, pop and poetry, identity and emotion always grounded in her values of empowerment and creative freedom. For MA’asalama Side B, she invited listeners into a space where goodbye carries many resonances not just a parting but transformation. Her rich voice and evocative lyrics build on past works while charting new, intimate terrain. Audiences at the Kimpton event savoured the live debut in a hotel lounge that felt at once private and vivid. Kimpton KAFD: A statement of place Kimpton KAFD Riyadh arrived as a milestone for the region. With 212 rooms, four unique dining venues, an outdoor pool deck and event spaces crafted with personality, the hotel marks Kimpton’s first foray into the Middle East. Situated in the King Abdullah Financial District, the hotel anchors Riyadh’s vision for blended resort-style luxury and urban lifestyle. Choosing this venue for Tamtam’s album launch was a considered move. The space mirrors her artistic mission: design-forward, cross-cultural, and unafraid to tell a story. The atmosphere of the evening, gleaming yet relaxed, intimate yet grand, made the hotel feel like a curated universe rather than a simple backdrop. The performance and the moment As Tamtam emerged on stage, the lounge dimmed and turned into an amphitheatre of mood and presence. Her set included tracks from the new album alongside signature songs that have defined her journey. With lighting that cast soft silhouettes, and an audience close enough to feel the impact of each lyric, the room felt electric with purpose. She spoke to her audience between songs about what MA’asalama Side B means to her: a reflection, a farewell, a promise of what comes next. And in this hotel venue, surrounded by luxury hospitality, the moment felt timely. Her music touched on heritage and modernity; her stage presence was grounded yet expansive. Why this matters For Tamtam, the performance signalled more than an album launch. It was a statement of identity: Saudi, global, unbound. For Kimpton KAFD Riyadh, hosting the event underscored its role as more than accommodation. It is a destination for culture, creativity and community. In Riyadh’s fast-evolving creative ecosystem, moments like this map a convergence between hospitality, lifestyle and artistic expression. A luxury hotel opens its doors to music that speaks across borders. An artist reclaims a narrative built on cross-cultural language. The city watches, listens and welcomes both. The takeaway The night closed with applause that lingered not so much for a single song but for a shared experience. Tamtam and Kimpton KAFD Riyadh continue to define what modern luxury and artistic voice look like in this moment. The album still has journeys ahead. The hotel still has stories to anchor. And the Kingdom continues to build the spaces where both can meet.

Empower, Engage, Sustain – Women Leading Initiatives The energy in Riyadh this November carried a quiet confidence. Within the halls of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, women from around the world came together to share ideas, stories, and ambitions. Voices met with purpose. Conversations turned into collaboration. Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Noura bint Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025 returned for its second edition under the theme “Empower • Engage • Sustain – Women Leading Initiatives.”  The event has grown into a living movement that reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing transformation and its investment in creativity, leadership, and dialogue. A forum of purpose Over three days, more than five hundred delegates gathered to exchange ideas and build connections. Leaders, innovators, and artists explored the links between creativity, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and technology, all framed by a shared belief that progress begins when imagination meets action. The forum became a place where leadership felt personal and creativity felt like responsibility. Each discussion offered a new perspective on how women across Saudi Arabia and the world are shaping a more connected and resilient future. The gala at the National Museum As the sun set over Riyadh, the National Museum of Saudi Arabia filled with light and celebration. The gala dinner and awards evening honored women whose influence continues to define the creative, scientific, and cultural landscapes. Guests were welcomed into a setting that felt both elegant and heartfelt, with performances by international artists adding moments of grace and reflection. In her remarks, Her Royal Highness Princess Noura described the evening as “a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and purpose.”  She spoke of the courage and imagination that drive progress and of the importance of bringing ideas to life with integrity and vision. Art as legacy The Forum concluded with the Creative Women Art Exhibition, curated by Rafael Porzycki and presented with the support of DHL Saudi Arabia. The exhibition was inspired by the Ministry of Culture’s Year of Handicrafts  initiative and featured works by Aida Murad, Saule Suleimenova, Sofia Cacciapaglia, Elisa Insua, Fatimah Al Nimr, and Olivia d’Aboville. Displayed across both Princess Nourah University and the National Museum, the exhibition blended contemporary art with heritage and craft. Proceeds supported the Herfa Cooperative Society, extending the forum’s message of empowerment beyond the walls of the event. A growing global movement Founded in London in 2016, the Creative Women Platform has become one of the world’s most active networks for women in leadership, innovation, and the arts. The Saudi edition added new dimension to that vision, creating bridges between cultures and industries while amplifying the role of women in shaping the future. As the forum came to a close, its message lingered: progress thrives in collaboration. When women come together to share knowledge, creativity becomes legacy.

Italian fashion’s global legacy and the visual poetry of Italian cinema In a beautifully curated dialogue between culture and craft, the L’Art Pur Foundation in Riyadh has opened two complementary exhibitions in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Riyadh, titled Fashion Frames  and Passages of Light . These exhibitions present a layered reflection on Italian fashion’s global legacy and the visual poetry of Italian cinema through Saudi Arabia’s ever-expanding art scene. Why this matters for Riyadh The exhibition arrives at a moment when Riyadh itself is shaping new paths as a cultural capital, one that embraces international conversation while building its own creative identity. L’Art Pur has been a pioneer in this ecosystem, and by partnering with the Italian Embassy the gallery underscores the role of culture as bridge-builder. For visitors this is not simply a showcase of glamour and nostalgia. The dresses tell stories of cinema, of women who wore them, of ateliers behind the seams, of how fashion crossed borders. The photographs invite contemplation of the hidden frames behind motion pictures, of light as material, of moments frozen. In Riyadh’s world of rapid change, those stories feel timely and resonant. What you’ll feel when you walk in Entering the gallery you step into a space where haute-couture meets the pulse of Saudi Arabia. The hush of the halls, the spotlight on each garment, the low hum of dialogue from montage to metadata. You may sense how the curators are inviting you to look beyond surface beauty, to trace the craftsmanship, the cultural shifts, the intertwining of film and fashion. In one room you might see an Audrey Hepburn-era gown floating on mannequin, in the next a still from a Fellini set where light and shadow perform.These works are not relics. They are conversations. Riyadh, through them, becomes part of a narrative that spans Milan, Rome and now the desert capital. A moment of cross-cultural resonance According to the Italian Ambassador Carlo Baldocci , the exhibition reflects “the strong ties between our countries” and the potential of culture as diplomacy. The language of style here becomes a language of connection, of mutual aspiration. In a Kingdom ramping up its cultural infrastructure, this event stands as evidence of the power of exchange. The details you need to know Where:  L’Art Pur Foundation, Takhassusi Street, Riyadh. When:  From 11 November 2025 until 30 November 2025. What to see: Fashion Frames  – curated by Stefano Dominella and styled by Guillermo Mariotto, features around 45 historic couture dresses drawn from private and archival collections, including works by Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Romeo Gigli and more. Passages of Light  – a photographic journey by Mimmo Cattarinich, who spent decades capturing Italian film sets and icons. The works explore the border-line between illusion and memory, film and reality.

Noor Riyadh 2025 returns: the city after dark Riyadh is about to glow again. Noor Riyadh comes back for its fifth edition from 20 November to 6 December 2025, turning the capital into an open air gallery of light, sound, and scale. This year’s theme, In the Blink of an Eye, looks at speed, perception, and a city in motion. Expect more than sixty installations and performances that trace a path from the historic core to the new skyline. When and where Dates: 20 November to 6 December 2025 Daily timings: installations illuminate 6:00 pm to 1:00 am Citywide hubs: Qasr Al Hokm District, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, stc Metro Station, KAFD Station, Public Investment Fund Tower, and JAX District. The route intentionally links heritage streets, museum courtyards, the metro spine, and the financial district so visitors can experience the festival by foot and by train. The curatorial lens Noor Riyadh 2025 is shaped by an international team: Mami Kataoka of Mori Art Museum, Li Zhenhua of Beijing Art Lab, and Riyadh based curator Sara Almutlaq. Their brief invites artists to play with memory and speed, asking how a single instant can change how we read the city. A capsule in Venice previewed the curatorial approach ahead of the festival, drawing a straight line between Riyadh’s rapid transformation and contemporary light practice. What to expect on the ground The 2025 program brings around sixty artworks by fifty nine artists from twenty four countries, with more than thirty five new commissions. Names announced include Saad Al Howede, Monira Al Qadiri, Abdulrahman Al Soliman, James Clar, Ivana Franke, fuse*, Ayoung Kim, Shinji Ohmaki, Michelangelo Pistoletto, and Muhannad Shono. Expect projections, kinetic pieces, immersive corridors of light, and works that respond to wind, sound, and the flow of people through metro stations and plazas. A brief history Noor Riyadh launched in 2021 and has grown into the world’s largest light art festival under the Riyadh Art program. The third edition in 2023 was led by Jérôme Sans with a team of curators and stretched across five main sites including KAFD and JAX. The fourth edition in 2024, Light Years Apart, was curated by Dr Effat Abdullah Fadag and Dr Alfredo Cramerotti and logged new Guinness World Records while drawing millions of visits. The festival’s evolution tracks with Vision 2030 and with Riyadh Art’s mandate to seed public art across the city. Practical details for visitors Hours: plan your walk for 6:00 pm to 1:00 am when installations are lit. Weekday evenings are calmer, while weekends bring more buzz. Getting around: the stc and KAFD metro stations double as festival sites, so the train becomes part of the experience. Heritage sites and museum precincts host intimate works, while tower facades carry large scale pieces. Program beyond the works: expect talks, tours, and workshops produced by Riyadh Art and partners, designed to open the making process to students and families. Why this edition matters The theme asks us to pay attention to the instant. Riyadh is changing quickly. The curatorial team uses light to freeze a moment so audiences can notice texture, memory, and rhythm. The choice of locations bridges eras of the city, from the courts of Qasr Al Hokm to the glass of PIF Tower. The result is a map you can walk, a set of encounters after dark, and a portrait of a capital that treats public space as a studio.

Music Travel Love captures Shura Island in a cinematic performance that celebrates Saudi creativity and global connection A new rhythm has emerged along the shores of Shura Island. To celebrate the opening of the island at The Red Sea, the Canadian duo Music Travel Love collaborated with Saudi singers Zena Emad and Hamza Hawsawi to create a global music moment filmed at The Red Sea EDITION, the island’s first resort. Together, they reinterpreted the classic anthem Don’t Stop Believin’  through a live acoustic performance that blends Saudi instrumentation, soul and storytelling within the natural beauty of the destination. The collaboration transforms Shura Island into a stage where art and place come together, reflecting a creative spirit that defines a new era for Saudi Arabia. The performance is both intimate and cinematic, combining the power of music with a vision of connection and pride. A performance inspired by the land and sea Led by brothers Bob and Clint Moffatt, Music Travel Love has become known for performances that connect music to place. Their projects have taken them around the world, where they reimagine familiar songs within landscapes that evoke emotion and memory. Their work in Saudi Arabia marks the beginning of a new creative journey, one that brings together international artistry and Saudi talent under the title Music Travel Love and Friends . The video features the voices of Hamza Hawsawi and Zena Emad, joined by oud player Hazim Khamees and percussionist Kareem Quraish on darbuka. Each element reflects Saudi artistry, from styling by Koren Dasoar for Personage to custom designs by Not Boring by Yazeed Abahussein and jewelry by APOA (A Piece of Art) worn by Zena Emad. The result is more than a performance. It is a visual and musical portrait of modern Saudi creativity, confident in its voice and rooted in its environment. Voices behind the project “For us, this was about creating something that belonged to this moment, with these artists, in this place,” said Bob and Clint Moffatt. “We have filmed in many incredible locations around the world, but Shura Island offered a unique creative energy. Working alongside Saudi musicians gave the song new character through their voices and instruments.” “It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with Music Travel Love and Zena Emad,” said Hamza Hawsawi. “Performing together with the Red Sea as our backdrop was an experience I will never forget.” “This project allowed us to share a side of Saudi Arabia that people have not experienced before,” said Zena Emad. “Singing at the shoreline and blending our sound into a global song felt powerful and true. It was a proud moment for all of us.” A creative milestone for The Red Sea Music Travel Love last filmed in the region in Abu Dhabi, where their acoustic video set against the fossil dunes reached millions of viewers. Their move to The Red Sea represents a new chapter for the duo and for the destination, reflecting a place defined by imagination, vision and artistic possibility. The Red Sea EDITION now welcomes guests as the first resort on Shura Island, with SLS The Red Sea and InterContinental The Red Sea Resort opening later this year. Through 2026, the island will continue to grow with the arrival of Four Seasons, Fairmont, Grand Hyatt, Raffles, Rosewood, Jumeirah, Faena and Miraval, establishing it as one of the world’s most dynamic new destinations for design, hospitality and culture. Visitors can reach Shura Island through Red Sea International Airport, which offers direct flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai and Doha, along with easy access from major European cities. From there, guests cross Saudi Arabia’s longest overwater bridge to reach the island, entering a world shaped by sea, sky and creativity. Don’t Stop Believin’ by Music Travel Love and Friends at Shura Island, The Red Sea  is now live, marking a new chapter for Saudi artistry and global collaboration where sound, culture and place move in harmony. Watch the music video HERE .

Istituto Marangoni Riyadh hosts an engaging conversation on fashion education Riyadh welcomed a thoughtful exchange of ideas as Istituto Marangoni Riyadh hosted a panel discussion titled Designing the Future of Fashion in Saudi . The event gathered leading names from the fashion and education sectors to explore how learning, mentorship, and collaboration are redefining the Kingdom’s creative landscape. The conversation was led by fashion journalist and author Sujata Assomull, who moderated a panel featuring Ingie Chalhoub, Founder and President of Étoile Group and long-time mentor at Istituto Marangoni, Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, and Anna Zinola, School and Education Director at Istituto Marangoni Riyadh. Together, they reflected on how education continues to anchor Saudi Arabia’s progress toward Vision 2030 and the creative economy it is building. A foundation for creative growth The panelists spoke about the importance of education as both a creative and economic force. They discussed how Istituto Marangoni’s presence in Riyadh is helping to equip young designers and entrepreneurs with the knowledge, technical ability, and confidence to thrive within an evolving global industry. The discussion highlighted the growing relationship between industry mentorship and education, and how this partnership will accelerate the professional development of Saudi talent. Chalhoub shared her perspective on nurturing emerging designers, emphasizing the power of guidance in shaping identity and skill. Cakmak outlined how the Fashion Commission continues to open pathways for Saudi creatives to gain access to opportunities, resources, and international exposure. The new creative classroom Located in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Istituto Marangoni Riyadh opened its doors in August 2025 with advanced training diplomas in Fashion Design, Fashion Management, Fashion Product, Fashion Communication & Image, and Fragrances & Cosmetics Management. Beginning in January, new professional courses will focus on subjects such as pattern cutting, retail management, visual merchandising, and digital design for fashion. The programs emphasize innovation, including the application of artificial intelligence within the design process. Through close collaboration with the Fashion Commission, the school aims to create a bridge between education and industry, linking Saudi students to an international network of mentors and professionals. The result is a curriculum that balances creative expression with business insight, preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully to the Kingdom’s growing fashion sector. A creative ecosystem in motion Saudi Arabia’s creative economy is rapidly expanding, with projections that the sector will contribute 2.6 percent to GDP by 2025 and generate more than 340,000 jobs. As the country invests in both infrastructure and talent, education remains the foundation on which this creative ecosystem will continue to grow. For Istituto Marangoni Riyadh, Designing the Future of Fashion in Saudi  marked more than a discussion. It represented a shared belief that learning, mentorship, and collaboration will shape the next generation of Saudi designers who are ready to lead on a global stage.

Saudi Arabia’s fashion ecosystem just gained another anchor partnership. The Saudi Fashion Association has announced an agreement with CATALOG Models, a Riyadh-based agency, signaling a practical step toward building a robust pipeline for modeling, casting, and runway operations in the Kingdom. While formal terms are not yet public, the move aligns with the Association’s mandate to strengthen collaboration, professionalize the sector, and create clear on-ramps for Saudi creatives. Why this matters For emerging and established designers, dependable access to trained models and organized casting is not a luxury, it is essential infrastructure. Pairing the Association’s sector-wide reach with a homegrown modeling platform promises faster show prep, more consistent fittings, and a higher standard of runway execution across brand presentations, seasonal showcases, and fashion week moments. The agreement also supports the localization of creative jobs that have historically been outsourced. What designers can expect A clearer pipeline from studio to runway.  Streamlined model scouting, casting briefs, and call-sheet logistics reduce friction for independent labels and larger houses alike. Standards and training.  Shared guidelines on walk coaching, fittings, backstage etiquette, and brand alignment raise the baseline for professional practice. Better representation for Saudi aesthetics.  With a local roster, designers can cast faces that reflect the Kingdom’s cultural identity while meeting international production standards. What it unlocks for creatives Models and talent.  Aspiring models gain a visible pathway to bookings, portfolio development, and mentorship under a reputable Riyadh agency. Stylists, MUAs, and show crews.  A more predictable production calendar means steadier opportunities for freelance creatives, from hair and makeup to choreography and show calling. Education and upskilling.  Expect workshops and short courses, building on the Association’s existing training activity, to map directly to real casting and runway needs. The bigger picture Saudi fashion is scaling quickly, with institutions formalizing pathways for talent and partnerships that connect education, production, and promotion. Agreements like this sit alongside broader initiatives that aim to elevate capacity and visibility for Saudi brands at home and abroad. For designers, the takeaway is simple. There will be more structure around casting, more opportunities to tell authentic Saudi stories on the runway, and more reasons to build your show calendar in Riyadh.

The VIP dinner was hosted by Chef Daniel Boulud himself The room felt like Paris in the capital. Marble softly lit, silver polished to a mirror, and that unmistakable perfume of shaved truffle rising from the pass. To mark the start of truffle season, Café Boulud at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh hosted an intimate dinner with Chef Daniel Boulud in attendance, a celebration of the ingredient that defines winter luxury and a nod to the restaurant’s first year in the city. Guests were welcomed with a quiet confidence that suits the Four Seasons address, then guided through a multi course tasting that moved from earthy black truffle to the season’s first shavings in classic Boulud style. The menu showed why the chef’s houses around the world treat truffle season as a ritual. Balance over bravado, sauces with memory, and a tempo that lets aroma lead. In Riyadh, the team’s French technique meets a local audience that understands refinement, and the result is a table that feels both global and at home. Chef Boulud’s presence gave the night its sparkle. Between courses he greeted tables, spoke about sourcing and ripeness, and shared how he thinks about truffles across his restaurants each winter. His visit also coincides with the city’s growing Dinex footprint, including the intimate ten seat Julien experience nestled behind Café Boulud, another sign that Riyadh is now part of the chef’s seasonal circuit. The setting did its part. Rockwell Group’s garden toned interiors and the light filled orangery made an elegant stage for a series of plates that layered texture and warmth. Service hit the sweet spot between choreography and ease, the cheese trolley drew its own applause, and the final flourish arrived under a veil of truffle that made the room go quiet for a moment. It was the kind of evening that explains why Café Boulud’s Riyadh outpost entered the MICHELIN Guide so quickly. If you go Café Boulud is at Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, Kingdom Centre. Truffle season menus run for a limited time each winter. Book directly with the hotel and ask about special tasting evenings and Julien’s private counter if you want a deeper dive into the kitchen’s craft.

It was a Riyadh home moment with heart Riyadh showed up in style for sisters Lojain and Aseel Omran as they introduced a home capsule at Crate & Barrel that speaks softly and lives beautifully. The look is modern Middle East at home, built on calm neutrals, sculptural glass, and warm textures that fit real rooms, not just showrooms. The launch felt personal, with the sisters walking guests through vignettes that mirror how they actually live, from elegant coffee rituals to relaxed evening corners. It is an edit that layers easily into existing spaces and feels right from apartment to villa. What gives the collaboration its glow is the match between voices and brand. Lojain, one of the region’s most followed media personalities, and Aseel, a Saudi actress and singer, have long shaped taste in ways that cross fashion, culture, and lifestyle. Crate & Barrel’s Riyadh presence, including Century Corner and Sahara Mall, creates a natural stage for that conversation, with rooms set for browsing, testing, and styling on the spot. On the floor, the capsule moves with a designer’s restraint. Think linen and boucle that invite touch, rippled glass that catches afternoon light, pale wood that warms without weighing a room down, and small objects that anchor coffee tables without clutter. The idea is to refresh a space with a few well chosen gestures. Start with a statement vase and a tray for date service, add textured cushions, then finish with glassware that makes even water feel considerate. The community energy mattered too. Fans lined up for photos and quick conversations, and the meet and greet kept the focus on design rather than noise. That tone sits well with a retailer that has been expanding thoughtfully in the Kingdom under Majid Al Futtaim, building stores that behave like idea labs as much as retail floors. If you are updating a living room before the season’s gatherings, this is a polished place to begin, with styling help in store and pieces that feel current yet calm. If you go Crate & Barrel Riyadh locations include Century Corner on King Fahad Road and Sahara Mall. Look for “Lojain’s Favorites” in store and online, and ask associates to build a vignette around your room dimensions for a quick, confidence giving refresh.

Candy meets the Riviera in a collaboration with noted French artist La Petite Maison Riyadh has invited a burst of playfulness into its elegant dining room. The French Mediterranean institution is hosting its first artistic collaboration with Laurence Jenkell, the Côte d’Azur sculptor celebrated for her gleaming “Wrapping Candy” works, a motif that has become a global symbol of joy, nostalgia, and craft. Recent posts from the artist and the restaurant confirmed the Riyadh collaboration at the end of October, with Jenkell’s bonbon sculptures appearing in situ and a program of creative moments around the unveiling. For guests, the pairing makes intuitive sense. LPM’s room already feels like a slice of the Riviera in Al Olaya, all light, linen, and market produce treated with care. The restaurant’s new Déjà Vu menu of alcohol free cocktails reads like a vintage magazine of coastal stories, so Jenkell’s polished candies slip naturally into the scene as tactile memories translated into contemporary sculpture. Expect a refined dialogue between plate, glass, and gallery object, with the dining ritual framing the works rather than competing with them. Jenkell, a self-taught artist and Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters, developed her signature torsion technique in the 1990s to “wrap” color and light into plexiglass forms that feel both familiar and elevated. Her pieces have traveled from major galleries to world events, and she recently anchored Middle East showings that brought the candy motif into regional conversations around design and pop sensibility. Seeing the work in a living, dining context highlights the artist’s intent to reconnect viewers with childlike wonder while honoring craft and finish. If you go, book a table that catches the room’s natural glow, then let service guide you through signatures and the Riviera inspired mocktails that LPM Riyadh has been perfecting. It is an evening that feels curated rather than staged, a meeting of French Mediterranean hospitality and contemporary art that makes the restaurant feel like a small salon, right here in the capital.

Vacheron Constantin’s most glamorous high jewelry timepiece is back in the spotlight The Grand Lady Kalla, first introduced in 2024 as an all diamond ode to Art Deco elegance, now arrives in vivid color with new emerald, ruby, and sapphire interpretations. Each one feels like a jewel box distilled into a watch, designed to glide from wrist to neckline with an effortless, modern grace. The story begins with Kallista in 1979, a one of a kind creation that set the maison on a path where watchmaking and high jewelry share the same heartbeat. The original Lady Kalla followed in 1980. Today’s Grand Lady Kalla honors that lineage and updates it for a collector who values both heritage and play. The set is designed to be worn four ways, without tools, shifting from timepiece on a fully gem set bracelet to pendant on a sautoir, then to jewel alone, or back again. It is a piece that understands how women really dress for a gala, for a dinner, and for everything in between. The new trilogy introduces color to the collection for the first time. The Emerald version is crafted in platinum and pairs white diamonds with saturated green stones across bracelet, watch, and jewel, with a sugarloaf cut emerald that anchors the composition. Ruby and sapphire versions are set in white gold and arrive with matching bead sautoirs, Akoya pearls, and mineral accents that extend the palette and give the necklaces a jewelry first presence. The articulation, the cut selection, and the way the stones seat into precious metal are all a reminder that Vacheron Constantin makes high jewelry watches with the same conviction it brings to its métiers d’art. Up close, the details reward lingering. The watch case is petite and architectural, set with emerald cut diamonds that echo the bracelet’s rhythm. Dimensions remain refined at roughly nineteen by thirty millimeters, allowing the piece to sit comfortably and keep the dial discreet. A quartz movement is used to preserve size and balance, a practical choice in a world where the object is both timekeeper and jewel. On the sautoir, polished beads and pearls enrich the line and add softness against the skin. The whole set reads as a suite, yet each element can stand on its own, which is rare in transformable high jewelry. The attitude is pure salon glamour. Diamonds and onyx recall the monochrome debut from 2024. Color brings a fresh mood that feels timely for winter openings and private season dinners. This is not a watch that hides under a sleeve. It is a conversation between cut, light, and movement, and the maison has written the dialogue with care. The transformable construction is tool free, the wearability is considered, the craftsmanship is the quiet constant that holds the whole performance together. For collectors in Riyadh, the Grand Lady Kalla speaks to a taste for statements that are refined rather than loud. It is meant for evenings where the invitation reads black tie, for museum galas, for modern couture, for a private night when jewelry is the story and time is the accent. In a year when the maison also celebrates technical bravura at the Louvre and unveils new métiers pieces, this high jewelry chapter underscores a truth about Vacheron Constantin. The house builds objects that live equally in culture and in craft. If you have followed the Kalla line for decades, you know the codes. If you are meeting it for the first time, start with the bracelet and watch, then try the necklace and jewel alone. The collection is designed to let you choose your scene. That freedom, combined with a century of savoir faire, is what makes the Grand Lady Kalla feel like the right kind of luxury now.