VIA Riyadh to host a week of curated Arab elegance Ana Arabiya returns to VIA Riyadh this November with the kind of polish that defines a true luxury season moment. From 2 to 8 November, the region’s largest platform for Arab creativity fills the Al Hada address with fashion, jewelry, fragrance, accessories, home objects, and limited editions, all curated for discovery and delight. It is a week where elegance feels effortless and the shopping is as considered as the design. Set within VIA Riyadh’s marble colonnades and private salons, Ana Arabiya brings together hundreds of designers from across the Arab world, turning the destination into a living gallery of craftsmanship and new ideas. Expect signature houses, rising labels, and one-off capsules, alongside concierge-level service that encourages slow browsing, private appointments, and bespoke commissions. The result is a refined counterpoint to the energy of Riyadh Season, created for guests who want sophistication, provenance, and meaningful keepsakes. The draw is not only breadth, it is the standard. Past editions have gathered more than 270 designers from 18 countries, with presentations that blend tradition and modernity in couture, jewelry, leather goods, and scent. This year continues that spirit on the most glamorous stage in the city, with VIA Riyadh elevating the experience through architecture, service, and an audience that understands luxury. For collectors, the week is an opportunity to meet makers, preview limited runs, and place custom orders in a setting that respects privacy and pace. For style seekers, it is a chance to build a wardrobe with pieces that speak to regional identity while standing confidently on the international scene. For the culturally curious, it is proof that Riyadh Season can be both spectacular and deeply considered, balancing blockbuster entertainment with an editorial showcase of Arab design. Plan for early evenings when the promenade hums, then linger for late appointments and small moments that make the event feel personal. Follow Ana Arabiya’s official channels for updates and entry details, and note that the program sits inside the broader Riyadh Season calendar, which brings the city to a full cultural shine through winter. This is the refined heart of the season, and it belongs on every luxury itinerary. Dates: 2–8 November 2025 Time: 4:00 PM–12:00 AM  Location: VIA Riyadh, Al Hada  Ticketing: Tickets and live updates via the official platforms: enjoy.sa  and WEBOOK

Ultima opens an ultra exclusive address for families and friends Riyadh’s luxury set has a new Swiss address to know. Ultima Collection is opening Ultima Promenade Gstaad this December, an ultra-exclusive private chalet on the village’s historic promenade that once belonged to the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. The residence has been reimagined as a sanctuary of quiet grandeur and contemporary ease, designed for families, friends, and the kind of celebrations that become stories. Spread across four expansive floors, the chalet balances intimacy and spectacle. There are eight bedroom suites and a children’s dormitory for full-house gatherings. A grand living room with wrap-around balconies and an open fire sets an elegant tone, while a dramatic dining room with soaring ceilings anchors long winter nights. Leisure comes by way of a private cinema, cigar lounge, games room, and even a discreet disco, so the mood can shift from low-lit conversation to late-night energy in one address. Interiors read timeless and tailored, with subtle Alpine cues and a calm palette that works in every season. Art is part of the narrative. Through a collaboration with Geneva’s Artion Galleries, rotating contemporary works are hand-selected to reflect the sensibilities of each stay, creating a considered dialogue between guest, place, and piece. It feels curated rather than decorated. Wellness is given an entire floor. Guests move between sauna, hammam, whirlpool, snow shower, cool pool, massage room, gym, and an indoor swimming pool. Programmes are bespoke and draw on Ultima’s expert team, from transformative personal training to signature spa rituals using Seed to Skin Tuscany and Augustinus Bader. Beyond the walls, the concierge shapes quiet journeys into Gstaad’s hidden corners so time away feels restorative and intentional. Service is where Ultima’s signature lives. A dedicated house manager anticipates the unseen, while a private chef, massage therapist, butlers, and chauffeur keep everything effortless. This winter also brings a gastronomic first. Zuma arrives in Gstaad with an exclusive pop-up at Ultima Hotel Gstaad and extends to the promenade chalet, where guests can host modern Japanese menus in residence prepared by a dedicated Zuma private chef. It is a welcome contrast to classic Alpine flavors and a clear signal of the collection’s culinary ambition. The address itself is part of the allure. Ultima Promenade Gstaad sits on the village’s most coveted stretch, surrounded by maisons from Louis Vuitton to Hermès and within a short glide of the slopes. Winter in Gstaad is a season of culture as much as snow, from the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad to Art Gstaad, with the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, polo tournaments, and tennis championships carrying the energy through summer. The new opening places guests inside that rhythm with privacy and theatre in equal measure. Ultima Promenade Gstaad is set to become one of the destination’s defining stays. For Riyadh travelers who value discretion, design, and hospitality that moves at their pace, the promenade just gained a new pinnacle.

ARTDOM Riyadh is poised to spotlight design’s most influential voices and ideas for the region Riyadh has a red-letter date for the global interiors community. On November 11 and 12, 2025, the Four Seasons Hotel at Kingdom Centre hosts ARTDOM Riyadh, a two-day program poised to spotlight design’s most influential voices and ideas for the region. What sets this edition apart is the calibre and diversity of its Business Program. Expect architect Carlo Colombo and the much-loved Italian design thinker Giulio Cappellini alongside curator Rossana Orlandi and Parisian designer and interior architect Pierre Gonalons. Regional leaders join the conversation too, including Hany Saad, Dr. Mohammad Baydoun of DAMAC Properties, and Yannic Leveque of Red Sea Global. Across two focused days the agenda explores how thoughtful design reshapes hospitality, real estate development, and the broader arts and lifestyle ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. The format blends talks, case studies, and trend discussions designed to translate inspiration into practical direction for decision makers. There is also a serious product story. ARTDOM will examine the making of premium collections for houses and institutions that have defined the language of contemporary design from the V and A and MoMA to Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Poliform, Moroso, Knoll, Lalique, and more. It is a rare chance to hear directly from the creative minds who have shaped global icons and to understand how those ideas can land in the Kingdom. Expect the show floor to feel like a beautifully edited gallery. Exhibitors promise exceptional interior solutions and a curated selection of luxury design pieces and art, with exclusive presentations and premieres that reward unhurried browsing. ARTDOM is making a clear invitation to the people who build and influence the spaces we inhabit designers, architects, developers, private clients, and the collector community. If you are shaping the built environment in Riyadh, this is a room you will want to be in. Pre-registration is now open so you can secure your place among a global cohort that is actively redefining tomorrow’s living environments. Visit artdom.com to register. About ARTDOM Riyadh ARTDOM Riyadh is an international exhibition and congress dedicated to interior design, art, and luxury furnishings. It unites creators, investors, and industry pioneers to explore how innovation, aesthetics, and sustainability are transforming modern living. It also reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a cultural hub and its commitment to creativity and economic diversification through design.

A Triumph On the Red Sea Where Design and Nature Meet Some honors feel loud. Others arrive like the tide, steady and sure, and change the shoreline for good. Nujuma, a Ritz Carlton Reserve on Ummahat Island in the Red Sea, has just been awarded Two MICHELIN Keys, and the recognition lands with that kind of gentle power. It signals an exceptional stay, and it affirms what discerning travelers have been whispering since the resort opened. This is a rare place, shaped by nature, culture, and care. Nujuma is a retreat that understands setting and story. Villas curve like seashells, materials honor the coast, and every view seems to hold a horizon that invites you to breathe deeper. The Reserve concept has always been about a sense of place, it is not a copy and paste formula, it is a promise to listen to the land and to the people who know it best. On the Red Sea, that idea feels completely alive, from the gentle architecture to the pace of service that never hurries you along. Two Keys in the new MICHELIN Guide framework mark an exceptional stay, a level of distinction reserved for properties that create experiences guests remember for a lifetime. The accolade places Nujuma among a very select group of hotels globally and reflects a craft that is equal parts design, hospitality, and emotional intelligence. As Resort Manager Dennis Sørensen noted, the recognition is a reflection of a team committed to sharing the beauty and authenticity of this destination through moments that feel both effortless and deeply considered. What does that look like in practice. It begins with the privacy and ease of your villa, where generous living spaces and private pools meet the sound of the sea. It continues through dining that tells a story about the region, with flavors that are both rooted and refined. The Neyrah Spa brings the rhythm down even further, with treatments that draw on local tradition and a design language that asks the mind to become quiet. Evenings often belong to the sky, guests find themselves stargazing, or simply sitting with the soft glow that lives between water and desert. The award also honors the way Nujuma engages with its environment. Sustainability here is not a marketing line, it shows up in materials, in the respect shown to marine life, and in the simple idea that the most luxurious thing we can offer future travelers is a coastline still alive with color. In a region that is quickly becoming a destination for thoughtful travel, this Reserve stands as a model for regenerative hospitality and for the kind of cultural authenticity that does not need to announce itself. It just is. There is a human thread that runs through every scene. The team knows when to step forward and when to allow a guest to have their own discovery. They remember your tea preference, they know where the light lands best at sunset, they suggest a quiet cove that might become your private memory of the Red Sea. It is intuitive service, the kind that feels less like performance and more like care. Awards do not create a destination, but they do help the world notice what has already been built with patience and intention. Two MICHELIN Keys for Nujuma tell travelers something simple and valuable. Come here if you want to feel the elements, if you want space that is both elegant and honest, if you want hospitality that treats wonder as a daily practice. For the Kingdom, it is another proof point that Saudi Arabia can host a level of luxury that is deeply local and quietly world class. Nujuma was always designed to be more than a place to stay. It is a small lesson in how to travel well, how to reconnect with nature, and how to find meaning in the details. The Two Keys are an emblem, and the real reward is the stillness you carry with you when you leave, the kind that makes you want to return and continue the story.

An In Depth Conversation Beyond Sparkle, Toward Substance There was a particular positivity in the room today as the Fashion Association hosted Beyond the Jewel, a panel that looked past sparkle and shine to the ideas that give jewelry its voice. As part of a panel of experts leading the conversation sat HRH Princess Nourah Alfaisal alongside Melanie Grant, a writer and curator in the field of fine jewellry, and Sophie Stevens, Head of Jewellry for the Middle East at Christie's. The conversation opened with a simple idea. Jewelry is not only an accessory. It is memory set in metal and stone. HRH Princess Nourah Alfaisal spoke about the discipline behind beauty. She described the quiet rigor of research, sketching, prototyping, and the respectful sourcing that comes before a jewel reaches the light. Her message resonated with aspiring designers in the audience. Creativity is not luck but a practice. From there the panel moved through the journey of a bringing a piece to market and its challenges. Concept to material to maker. HRH Princess Nourah spoke about the cultural library that designers draw from in Saudi Arabi; motifs found in culture and the warmth of family heirlooms. Ms Stevens highlighted modern design and how contempoary design can sit alongside traditional hand work without losing soul. Everyone agreed that innovation and heritage can be good partners when they are guided by intention. This is where the Fashion Association stepped in to frame the bigger picture. The Association’s mission is to grow a strong, skilled, and connected fashion ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. It does this by nurturing talent across the chain. Designers. Product developers. Pattern cutters. Merchandisers. Photographers. Stylists. The Association develops programs that bridge education and industry. It brings mentors to the classroom and takes students into studios and factories. It offers workshops on design fundamentals and production standards. It convenes panels and roundtables that introduce local creators to regional and international experts. It helps brands understand market entry, sourcing pathways, and export readiness. It advocates for ethical practice and promotes sustainability literacy so that new labels start with the right habits. Beyond community building, the Association works to showcase Saudi creativity on respected stages. It supports collective presentations and curated showrooms. It creates research and insight reports that help brands make better decisions. It opens doors to partnerships that match Saudi talent with manufacturers, retailers, and cultural institutions. Step by step, this work turns individual ambition into a network that can compete and collaborate with confidence. As the panel drew to a close, the conversation returned to the idea that gives the event its name. Beyond the jewel lies the maker. Beyond the maker lies the community that taught and supported them. Beyond the community lies a culture that continues to evolve with pride. HRH Princess Nourah Alfaisal left the room with a gentle challenge. Make beautiful things that last. Let your technique be your signature. Let your voice be visible in every detail. Today felt like a clear snapshot of where Saudi fashion is heading. Thoughtful. Skilled. Rooted in heritage and ready for the world. The Fashion Association continues to set the stage for that future, one conversation and one program at a time. If you are building a brand, or if you are simply curious about the craft, keep an eye on what the Association is doing next. The work is steady. The momentum is real. And the story is only getting brighter.

A Serene Sanctuary Blooms in Diriyah The first thing you notice is the quiet. Cool air meets the scent of oud and the city drops away. Bab Samhan has opened Nafel Al Wadi Spa, a new sanctuary in the heart of Diriyah, and it feels exactly right for a place that lives by heritage and hospitality in equal measure. The name takes its cue from the nafel wildflower that blooms in the valley after rain. Renewal is the message. Renewal is the promise. Inside, the design reads as an earthen retreat. Organic linens are hand dyed in tones drawn from pomegranate and acacia. Light settles softly on plaster and stone. Everything signals calm with purpose. There are dedicated treatment rooms for ladies and for gentlemen, traditional hammam spaces, steam and sauna, serene changing areas, and relaxation lounges that invite you to stretch a moment between treatments. Wellness extends beyond the therapy rooms with a state of the art gym, group fitness classes, and a temperature controlled indoor pool watched by a lifeguard, plus a Jacuzzi pool for an easy reset. The menu carries two names that matter to spa lovers. AMRA brings results driven luxury with rare ingredients and a sense of ceremony. Omorovicza brings mineral rich rituals that feel both modern and rooted in craft. Expect to see Revitalizing Moor Mud work, illuminating facials, hydrating therapies and a regal Queen Ritual that draws on the brand’s gold collection. For something you will talk about later, book the signature 24 carat gold plated hot stone massage, which uses controlled heat from gold plated stones to unwind deep tension and lift circulation. Hours are generous for real life. Treatments run daily from one in the afternoon until ten at night. Wet areas, gym, and pool open from six in the morning and remain available until ten in the evening. That means you can move from an early swim to a mid morning meeting, then return for an unhurried ritual after sunset. The opening lands as a cultural note as much as a hospitality one. Diriyah is becoming a global destination for architecture, dining, and storytelling. A true luxury spa belongs in that conversation. As General Manager Fabrice Ducry puts it, the new spa is designed as a sanctuary where guests restore energy, balance, and vitality, a living symbol of renewal at the heart of Diriyah. What we loved in our first walk through was the way the space balances discretion with welcome. Couples arrive quietly and disappear into treatment rooms. Friends meet in the lounge after a class and talk in low tones. A solo traveler takes the last minutes of daylight by the pool before moving into an evening ritual. The mood is unforced and human, which is what makes experiences like this linger. For readers planning a visit, the easiest path is to choose a rhythm and let the team shape it. Begin with the wet circuit to soften the day. Take a mineral based facial for glow and resilience as the air grows drier. Finish with the gold stone massage if your week sits in your shoulders. Or build a wellness morning with a class, a swim, and a short ritual that sends you back into Diriyah feeling lighter. The spa team can tailor every element, from pressure to pace to the scent that follows you out the door. Bab Samhan has always read as a house that honors place while speaking a global language. Nafel Al Wadi Spa deepens that voice. It gives the district a room for restoration and gives travelers a reason to stay one more night. In a city that moves fast, this is a beautiful place to pause.

Zuma and LPM Toast Riyadh With Craft and Clarity Some collaborations feel inevitable the moment you hear them. Zuma Riyadh, home to contemporary Japanese izakaya energy, joins LPM Riyadh, the French house loved for its elegant ease. The result is a single glass with a clear point of view. It is called Tsukimi Fleur and it is the signature of an October worth circling on the calendar. The story began with an exclusive bar takeover at Zuma Riyadh, a night that drew a crowd of tastemakers and curious regulars. Bartenders from both restaurants worked shoulder to shoulder, trading techniques, swapping garnishes, and grinning like musicians who have found the right tempo together. There was a quiet debut inside the theatre of service too. A bespoke ice program arrived in the city, crystal clear blocks shaped with purpose so that melt becomes part of the recipe rather than an accident. It was a small detail that said a lot. Riyadh is ready for craft at this level. Tsukimi Fleur is a celebration of balance and a nod to two homes at once. Tsukimi evokes the Japanese moon viewing tradition. Fleur speaks the language of French grace. In the glass those ideas meet as something bright and precise. The recipe keeps faith with the zero alcohol promise while delivering a layered experience. Tanqueray zero brings botanical structure. Monin elderflower lends perfume and softness. Yuma adds citrus lift. Jasmine tea soda ties everything together with fine bubbles and a floral finish that lingers. The sip is refreshing and composed. It arrives looking like a small work of design and drinks like a conversation between two kitchens that trust their craft. You can find Tsukimi Fleur throughout October 2025 in two homes. Order it at LPM Riyadh where it slips easily into a lunch that becomes a late afternoon. Order it at Zuma Riyadh in the vibrant lounge, at the bar, or in the sprawling main restaurant that moves across two floors. Each setting frames the drink differently. At LPM it reads as Riviera poise tuned for the city. At Zuma it reads as Tokyo energy distilled and focused. In both rooms it feels like a well judged welcome to the season. What sets this collaboration apart is intention. There is no rush to shout. The teams at Zuma and LPM are speaking in the language of detail. Glassware that flatters without fuss. Ice that holds its line. Garnish that hints rather than hides. A service sequence that lets a guest enjoy the moment whether they are pairing Tsukimi Fleur with a plate or simply taking a pause between conversations. It is hospitality that understands rhythm. The Riyadh dining scene has been building toward nights like this. Chefs trade ideas across kitchens. Guests move freely between genres. A Japanese izakaya room and a French fine dining room now share a signature and it feels natural, even inevitable. It suggests a city that welcomes collaboration and expects excellence. It also shows how a zero alcohol program can be inventive without compromise. The choice is not a limit. It is a canvas. For those who collect the details, the Tsukimi Fleur is priced at 53 SAR and is available until October 31. The teams recommend booking ahead. At Zuma, reserve via +966 920 014 597 or the site if you prefer to plan in a couple of taps. At LPM, ask your host to time the pour with your first plate or your last course. Either way, the point is not to rush. Let the glass arrive. Notice the aroma. Take the first sip and see how the jasmine settles. If you are choosing a moment, consider three. A midday stop at LPM when the dining room glows and the city seems to slow outside. An early evening at Zuma when the lounge hums and the two floor vista feels alive. A late night corner when conversation turns reflective and a clear headed ritual makes sense. The drink meets each of these moods with the same quiet confidence. The larger picture is simple. Riyadh keeps finding new ways to bring its restaurants into dialogue. This collaboration is not a headline for headline’s sake. It is a thoughtful exchange between two kitchens that know who they are and respect one another’s strengths. It offers guests a signature that belongs to both houses and to the city. It also sets a tone for future crossovers, more playful, more thoughtful, and more open to precision. October does not last long, but memory does. Tsukimi Fleur captures a season where Japanese artistry meets French savoir faire and the city raises a glass to the idea that craft can be clear, modern, and shared. Order one, take your time, and let Riyadh show you how far its taste has traveled. Offering: Tsukimi Fleur Availability: Through October 31 Price: 53 SAR Reservations for Zuma Riyadh: +966 920 014 597 or visit zumarestaurant.com/riyadh

The Art of Cooking, the Luxury of Time There are months that feel like a gift and this October at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is one of them. The island has set the table for a run of experiences that turn dining into discovery. It is the kind of programming that reminds you why people travel for taste. The resort describes October as a canvas for exceptional experiences, a moment when guests engage directly with culinary visionaries whose craft turns a meal into cultural exploration. It is a generous promise and the calendar more than delivers. Chef Dave Pynt returns to The Ledge From October 13 to 19, Michelin starred chef and restaurateur Dave Pynt takes the helm at The Ledge, the wood fire concept he created exclusively for the resort. If you know Burnt Ends in Singapore, you know the language he speaks, smoke that kisses rather than overwhelms, slow roasting with a patience that lets flavor bloom, and a sculptural choreography of grills and embers. The Ledge is built for this voice with a custom four ton dual cavity oven and elevation grills powered by sustainable Jarrah wood. By day the poolside feels lazy in the best way. By night the horizon fades to ink and the kitchen glows. Two evenings anchor the residency. October 15 brings The Ledge Team Takeover with Chef Dave, a convivial sequence of plates where Pynt’s signatures meet the creativity of The Ledge brigade, each course paced with thoughtful pairings from the culinary team. October 18 belongs to Fire and Finesse by the Beach, a barefoot celebration at Mirror Pool Beach with a bespoke wood fired menu of refined snacks, new ideas, and elevated classics served in that elegant Waldorf style that makes a party feel effortless. Japanese culinary artistry at Zuma Maldives The month opens with a different kind of mastery. From October 1 to 7, Zuma Maldives presents a spotlight on contemporary Japanese cuisine with a series of immersive evenings that honor centuries of craft and technique. Guests will encounter rare and meticulous expressions of the kitchen, guided by storytelling that brings regional traditions to life. The program moves in three chapters.Enkai Night Brunch on October 1 sets a lively pace with robata favorites, sushi, and interactive tastings that demystify technique while keeping the mood light.Ginza Night on October 4 shifts to an elegant seated dinner where premium courses meet narratives from the culinary team, the kind of evening that leaves you with new language for what you are tasting. Osaka Night on October 7 celebrates street side flavors and craftsmanship with takoyaki, sushi, and robata, plus personalized calligraphy keepsakes and guided tastings that make a beautiful souvenir of learning. Why this matters Resorts often promise culinary seasons. Few assemble lineups that feel this considered. Chef Pynt’s return reads as a love letter to the element of fire. Zuma’s Japanese journey reads as a master class in patience and precision. Together they turn a beautiful island into a classroom and a stage. Lunch becomes a lesson. Evening becomes a memory. If you go, bring curiosity and time. Let a slow lunch roll into a golden hour walk. Reserve the beach evening and arrive early enough to watch the sky change. Save a seat at Zuma for the night that speaks to you, then ask questions. The teams here know their craft and take pleasure in sharing it. October does not last forever. On an island like this, that is exactly what makes it special.

A bright new Saturday ritual in the heart of the DQ Weekend mornings in the Diplomatic Quarter have a special light. It filters through palm fronds and lands softly on limestone. Into this calm comes a new reason to gather. The Lighthouse has launched a brunch at 1364 and it already feels like a weekly ritual waiting to happen. The mood is easy from the door. Sun on the terrace. DJ music, buzz from the open kitchen. The Lighthouse team moves with that practiced warmth the brand is known for, the kind that remembers a face and offers a second coffee before you ask. It is the sort of welcome that makes you slow your pace and settle in. The menu reads like a conversation between comfort and curiosity. Think tender baby chicken, braised short ribs, bright greens, and breads that arrive still warm. Salads lean into herbs and flavors. There is always a plate you want to split and a plate you secretly want to keep to yourself. Design is part of the pleasure here. The Lighthouse has always treated space as part of the experience and the 1364 address gives that approach a beautiful stage. Natural materials keep the room grounded. Shelves carry a curated mix of lifestyle pieces that catch the eye between courses. It is the kind of setting that makes conversation unhurried and photographs well without anyone trying. Brunch is a social sport in Riyadh and this one plays to the strengths of the DQ. Families find room to spread out. Couples lean into a slow morning. Friends meet after a run or a gallery visit and stay longer than planned. Service keeps the pace relaxed while the kitchen moves with quiet precision. You feel looked after without fuss. What makes this launch stand out is intention. The Lighthouse is not chasing a trend. It is offering a morning table that respects time. Plates are generous without being heavy. Flavors are layered without feeling complicated. There is a rhythm to the service that lets you pause between courses or push ahead if the day calls. The team is present and personable which matters more than any headline dish. Plan for the terrace when the weather is kind. The DQ breeze does its work and the city feels softer from this corner. Inside, the energy builds as the room fills, yet it never tips into noise. Conversation is the soundtrack. Cups meet saucers. Someone laughs at a story that only lands because everyone finally has time to sit still. If you are the type who maps weekends like a treasure hunt, add this to your route. Start with a coffee and a sweet bite. Move to a savory plate that anchors the morning. Finish with something shared so the table ends on a note of generosity. It is a simple formula that makes for a very good day. Reservations are wise. The DQ crowd loves a new habit and this one has all the signs of a keeper. Ask the team for timing and any seasonal specials. They will point you to the best seat, and the kind of detail that turns a first visit into the first of many. The Lighthouse at 1364 is giving Riyadh a brunch that feels like it belongs here. Calm. Considered. Bright with flavor and easy to love. A place to gather and a reason to linger. Exactly what a weekend morning should be.

An Evening of Care, Courage, and Community We arrived at HARNN Heritage Spa just as the light softened over the gardens, and the room felt warm before anyone spoke. Candles glowed, roses in soft pinks framed the welcome. It was a Pink October gathering with one clear intention, to support the work of the Zahra Breast Cancer Association and the Breast Cancer Research Center, and to leave everyone just a little more informed and a lot more connected. HARNN’s Riyadh home inside InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh is known as a sanctuary. You feel it in the hush of the corridors and in the way the team steers you gently toward calm. It is also the Middle East’s first HARNN Heritage Spa, a Thai wellness brand that treats ritual as craft, which made the setting feel both elegant and sincere for a night about health and hope. The program opened with a simple message from the hosts, wellness is not a luxury when it comes to early detection. A specialist physician then took the floor and turned that idea into practical guidance. She walked us through signs to notice, how to approach regular screening, and what to expect from modern treatments. Her tone was steady and reassuring. Knowledge is power. Early detection saves lives. Heads nodded, questions landed. The most moving moment came from a survivor who shared her story with grace. She spoke about the first appointment, the waiting, the way family and community carry you through, her struggle going through chemotherapy during the pandemic, and the strange mix of vulnerability and strength that arrives when you let people help. The room held its breath together, then softened into applause that felt like a promise, we will talk to our sisters and our friends, and we will not delay that first check. Zahra’s work gave the evening its backbone. The association has been a national force for awareness and support since 2007 under the leadership of Princess Haifa Al Faisal. Its mission reaches across education, early detection, training, patient support, and research. In plain language that means seminars, screening drives, counselor training, and a network that helps women navigate the hardest days with dignity and information. Events like this one do more than raise a ribbon. They connect a luxurious space to a public good in a way that feels natural to the city. HARNN has welcomed Pink October moments before, and the combination of attentive hospitality and clear messaging proved powerful again. Guests left with screening reminders in their phones and a list of next steps that felt achievable. The night closed with a gentle invitation. Book your screening. Share information. Check on a friend who has been putting it off. Support the organizations that make the path clearer for women and families across the Kingdom. It felt right to step back into the evening air with a little more knowledge and a lot more resolve. HARNN gave the city a beautiful room. Zahra and the Breast Cancer Research Center filled it with purpose. Together they turned awareness into momentum, which is the real work of Pink October.

Pure Truffle Theater For a City That Expects the Best Last night Spago welcomed a collaboration with Ramelli for a one night only black truffle dinner at Via Riyadh, and the room felt electric before the first course even touched the table. Lights were ambient, the open windowned kitchen murmured, and the aroma of fresh truffle drifted across the dining room in a way that made conversation soften and smiles appear. Executive Chef Daniel Irvine and Saudi guest chef Mohammed Albasha of The Ritz Carlton led the evening together, a confident duet that gave the menu polish and a local heartbeat. Spago is an award winning restaurant created by celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck. Born in Los Angeles and credited with shaping modern California cuisine, the brand blends seasonality, an open kitchen spirit, and relaxed glamour. Its Riyadh home sits in VIA Riyadh, where the service culture matches the kitchen’s precision. Spago in the Kingdom is part of the vision of Cool Inc, a Saudi founded hospitality group that partners with world class chefs and also develops homegrown concepts. The result is an international name expressed with local fluency, which is exactly how the evening felt. We began with a quartet of amuse bouches that read like small love letters to the mushroom. A forest mushroom and truffle cheesecake arrived first, savory and silky, set over black olive soil with a whisper of onion ash. A crisp chicken katsu followed with daikon and red endive, brightened by a black truffle juice ponzu that balanced richness with lift. The kunafa tuna tartare brought a playful Saudi touch, fine akami dressed with avocado and habbat al barakah, the kunafa adding crunch and memory in the same bite. A final mushroom and truffle chip scattered with local mixed nuts and parmesan gave a gentle, nutty finish. Four small plates, four reasons to settle in and trust the kitchen. The appetizers pushed the story forward. Musaka and truffled burrata paired roasted vegetables and rustic bread with an Arabian style dressing that made the burrata taste even creamier. Lobster agnolotti came in a truffled lobster bisque that was deep and fragrant, the kind of sauce that quiets a table for a moment. Then a plate of crispy potato and lumi arrived, simple on the surface, clever in texture and seasoning, a bright pause before the mains. Two main courses carried the center of the night. The pan roasted quail breast was cooked with precision and paired with its confit leg, compressed pear, a truffle remoulade, sautéed Brussels sprouts, an egg yolk jam that gave a golden gloss, and a natural pan sauce that tied everything together. It was elegant and generous at once. The second plate grounded the evening in place. Hasawi rice and short rib came with crisped grains, a smoked tomato essence, pickled shallot and coriander relish, fried shallots, and a light Thai spiced jus. The rice carried the perfume of the pan and the beef fell to the fork, a conversation between global technique and local comfort. Dessert felt like a soft curtain call. An apple and pecan nut tart tatin arrived warm and glossy with labneh and truffle honey ice cream, a little olive oil and a pinch of sea salt to keep it honest. Then a Spago signature truffle macaroon gift box appeared, the kind of sweet that makes you promise to return. Spago’s bar played its part beautifully. We sipped a bright Italian Sour built on Lyre’s Italian Spritz with passion fruit, pineapple and lime, which paired well with the seafood. Sunkiss Summer mixed cold brew with orange, orgeat and lime and turned out to be a clever match for the short rib. Other tables leaned into Double Happiness with pineapple, passion fruit, orgeat and coconut, and we watched more than one Moonlight Sunset glide by in a glowing shade of blood orange and lychee. The room seemed to be having fun with the names and the flavors, and so were we. What made the night special was the way the two chefs shared the stage. Daniel Irvine kept the pacing calm and precise, the Spago style you feel in the timing, the heat, the finish on the sauce. Chef Mohammed Albasha threaded the evening with Saudi notes that felt natural and proud, from the kunafa crunch on the tartare to the Hasawi rice that anchored the short rib. Together they delivered an experience that was luxurious without stiffness, a dinner that moved with rhythm and warmth. For one evening the truffle did not dominate as a headline, it supported a story about a city that loves food and a team that understands how to host. We left with the taste of apple still lingering and the sense that Spago and Cool Inc had given Riyadh a little piece of theatre that will be remembered by everyone who found a seat.

Octola Private Wilderness sets a new bar for clean air luxury, and why that matters now Luxury travel is changing. Guests want beauty and comfort, they also want proof that a place protects what makes it special. In Finnish Lapland, inside the Arctic Circle, Octola Private Wilderness has quietly moved the conversation forward. The estate has installed research grade monitoring of ultrafine air particles on its private grounds, a level of measurement usually reserved for universities and government stations. The result is continuous, transparent data on the purity of the Arctic air, long regarded as some of the cleanest on Earth, now shown on instruments rather than only described in poetic terms. This is not a marketing flourish, it is the continuation of Octola’s founding idea, that the air and nature of Lapland are restorative in a way you can feel in your lungs and in your nervous system. “Our surroundings have always offered a rare purity, now we have the data to prove it,” says founder Janne Honkanen. Guests come to reconnect with nature in its purest form, and the property is measuring the smallest particles, the ones that are most harmful, in order to affirm the quality of the environment they are breathing. From Promise To Accountability The step sounds technical, it reads as hospitality with conscience. By monitoring and sharing air quality data, Octola creates a new level of accountability for a private estate. It reinforces guest care, and it gives shape to a wider shift we see across high luxury retreats, where wellness claims meet scientific validation, and where owners show stewardship with data, not only with words. Octola’s location also makes it a living field station. The estate collaborates with leading researchers who work in the region, including Northern Lights scientists such as Dr. Esa Turunen. With aurora visible on more than two hundred nights each year, the property offers a rare setting where guests experience spectacle while scientists pursue long term observation. It is a model that feels right for this moment, experience for the guest, insight for the planet. Octola II, Opening This Winter The initiative will extend to Octola II, opening December 2025, and to the broader Octola Collection. The private wilderness already spans more than 1,730 acres on the Arctic Circle, fully off grid, with near constant silence and a sense of natural calm that slows you before you even notice. Octola II deepens that promise with a five bedroom lodge that includes an in house spa and three saunas, a children’s playroom, a gym, staff rooms, and a dedicated aurora viewing area with glass ceilings and walls. The Supersuite Villa adds two large ensuite bedrooms, each with its own sauna, bath, and outdoor hot tub. In winter the sky paints itself for hours, in summer the Midnight Sun turns the night into a soft, surreal glow. Respiro Octola, Wellness Shaped By The Air Itself As an extension of its environmental work, the property is launching Respiro Octola, a wellness program rooted in the purity of the Arctic environment. The concept is simple and powerful, breathe some of the cleanest air on Earth, pair it with guided breathwork, sauna rituals, yoga, ice swimming, and natural treatments that heighten awareness and restore balance. The program is bespoke, shaped to the individual rather than the calendar, with practices known to reduce stress and build resilience. The science is encouraging. Previous studies cited by Octola reference findings from the World Health Organization and Värriö Research Station at the University of Helsinki, indicating that a week in Lapland’s clean air environment can measurably add to life expectancy, with the magnitude varying by home city and baseline pollution. As Professor Mikko Sipilä of the University of Helsinki notes, air pollution reduces global average life expectancy by about two years, and in the most polluted regions by far more. Clean air supports respiratory recovery and can contribute to longer, healthier lives. Octola turns that idea into a stay you can feel. What This Signals For Luxury Travel The market is speaking clearly. High net worth travelers do not only want rare settings, they want reassurance, transparency, and a sense that their presence supports the place rather than drains it. Clean air data is not a typical amenity, it is a signal of intent. We expect more estates to follow with water monitoring, biodiversity counts, and seasonal impact reporting that can be shown to guests in simple, human terms. Octola calls this a living promise to the Arctic, and that phrasing matters. The purity that guests describe as healing is not a fixed asset, it is a resource that requires care. Measuring it is the first step, sharing it is the second, evolving operations around it is the third. For travelers choosing where to invest their time and attention, this is the new language of trust. Need to know Where : Octola Private Wilderness, Finnish Lapland, inside the Arctic Circle What is new : Research grade ultrafine particle monitoring on the private estate, with data shared as part of the guest experience, integration planned across the full Octola Collection including Octola II opening December 2025 Why it matters : A measurable standard for air purity, deeper collaboration with scientists, a wellness program that treats clean air as a primary asset, and a model for sustainability in the luxury sector Octola has always sold silence, sky, and space. Now it adds something timely, proof. In a market where sustainability and wellness increasingly define value, that proof reads like a luxury of its own.