Saudi creatives in Milan

Welcome to AL-MONITOR Riyadh.

This week, we spotlight a presentation of Saudi designers in Milan during Milan Design Week. Titled “Jusoor,” the Arabic word for “bridge,” it features pieces by five Saudi creatives developed through collaborations with design brands and studios in New Delhi, Kathmandu and Barcelona. Elsewhere, we preview ATHR Gallery’s presentation at Art Dubai, showcasing works by Saudi artist Mohammad Al Faraj and Emirati artist and curator Rami Farook, along with a stargazing escape in AlUla and a lineup of Arab films at Hayy Cinema in Jeddah.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Riyadh's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: Saudi designers at Salone del Mobile  

Saudi designer Abeer AlRabiah in Nepal. (Courtesy of the Saudi Ministry of Culture)

The Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia is unveiling “Jusoor Design Collections" at this year’s Milan Design Week to champion Saudi designers on the global stage. The presentation, which takes place at the historic headquarters of the Istituto Lombardo in Palazzo Brera, is titled “Jusoor,” the Arabic word for “bridges,” reflecting connections across cultures, disciplines and generations.

Curated by Samer Yamani, a Dubai-based design curator and creative director, the event marks the international exhibition debut of a collaborative program by the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission, developed by Creative Dialogue in collaboration with AMSY Lab. It brings together five Saudi creatives — Muotaz Abbas, Aseel Alamoudi, Abeer AlRabiah, Albandari Sulaiman and Saud Alsaleh — with leading design brands from Nepal, India and Spain. The Milan presentation represents the culmination of collaborations and production journeys spanning Riyadh, New Delhi, Kathmandu and Barcelona.

In each location, Saudi designers worked closely with brands and makers to transform ideas into finely crafted, limited-edition objects shaped through dialogue and experimentation. These include Klove Studio in New Delhi, a design atelier redefining lighting through India’s glassblowing heritage and sculptural craftsmanship; Iwan Maktabi, based in Lebanon and the UAE, a design house rooted in centuries-old textile traditions reinterpreted through contemporary forms; and Lagranja Design from Barcelona, a multidisciplinary studio working across architecture, interiors and collectible design.

“I believe that bridges, or ‘jusoor’ in Arabic,  are more than mere structures built to connect two points,” Yamani tells Al-Monitor. “At its heart, ‘Jusoor Design Collections' is a laboratory of human connection — a sanctuary where Saudi vision and international craftsmanship come together. ‘Jusoor’ is where craft is no longer a relic of the past, but one of the most luminous human forms of innovation.”

Date: April 21-26

Location: Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan

Find more information here. 

2. Word on the street: The Vinyl Ember

A view of dishes at The Vinyl Ember in Riyadh. (Courtesy of The Vinyl Ember)

Nestled within the first floor of Kimpton KAFD Riyadh, this elevated American grill offers an inviting, upscale ambiance with a delicious menu of hearty American favorites. At the center of the restaurant is an open-fire kitchen where diners get to watch the chef bring dishes to life. Order the premium dry-aged steaks, artisanal sides and elevated grilled meats. Try the Chef’s Table by Chef Michele every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring five to seven-course curated menus by Chef Michele Di Bonito, who has worked across Europe and the United States at Michelin-starred restaurants. Highly recommended is The Butcher’s Table, which takes place every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and offers a succulent, bold, meat-focused experience.

Location: First floor, Kimpton KAFD Riyadh

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

Mohammad Alfaraj. “A Palm Tree Is a Mother,” 2025, charcoal on paper. Courtesy of the artist.

• ATHR Gallery to present Saudi artist Mohammad Al Faraj and Emirati artist Rami Farook during Art Dubai

For Art Dubai’s 20th anniversary, taking place this year one month later than planned due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war, leading Saudi gallery ATHR will present a booth jointly displaying works by Saudi artist Mohammad Al Faraj and Emirati artist and curator Rami Farook. Faraj is an award-winning Saudi multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker whose work explores the intersection of ecology, heritage and social issues. Born and raised in Al-Ahsa, one of the world’s largest oases in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, his practice is deeply rooted in the natural landscapes and cultural traditions of his hometown. In 2025, he received the Art Basel Emerging Artist Award and the Art Basel Gold Award. 

Rami Farook, a self-taught Emirati interdisciplinary artist, curator and cultural producer, is known for work that is raw and often infused with social commentary and conceptual experimentation. His practice is often characterized by a “socio-historical” approach that blends personal experience with broader aspects of present-day Gulf and global society.

Date: May 14-17

Location: Art Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai 

Find more information here.

• Stargazing at Gharameel, AlUla

During a time of regional and global uncertainty, sometimes the best respite is to retreat into nature. In Saudi Arabia, head to the desert region of AlUla, home to four certified Dark Sky Parks: AlUla Manara, Gharameel Nature Reserve, Sharaan National Park and Wadi Nakhlah Nature Reserve. Here, visitors get to journey into Gharameel for a rare view of the Milky Way, free from light pollution, with millions of stars visible to the naked eye and framed by its dramatic rock formations. On full moon nights, visitors are guided on a short walk to admire the surrounding landscape before setting up camp to view the night sky. On darker nights, the experience focuses entirely on the stars and constellations. All tours include a grilled dinner prepared around the campfire.

Date: Until end 2026

Location: AlUla Manara, Gharameel Nature Reserve, Sharaan National Park and Wadi Nakhlah Nature Reserve, AlUla

Find more information here. 

• Hayy Cinema 

Throughout April, Hayy Cinema — Jeddah’s first independent arthouse cinema at the Hayy Jameel cultural complex — is staging a program of films exploring resilience, memory and solidarity. The lineup includes “Sirat” (2025), the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize winner, charting an increasingly tense road journey through the Moroccan desert, and "Roqia” (2025), an Algerian suspense narrative exploring memory, faith and the supernatural. For French cinema lovers, the Rendezvous with French Cinema program features the whimsical and charming “Little Amelie or the Character of Rain” (2025).

Date: Until end of April

Location: Hayy Jameel, Al Muhammadiyah district of Jeddah,

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: ‘The Bro Code of Saudi Culture ’

This book by Saudi professor Abdul Al Lilay explores the internal code of conduct that governs Saudi society. Published in 2018 during the advent of Vision 2030, The Bro Code of Saudi Culture examines the unwritten, largely oral traditions of the Kingdom. These cultural norms have often been difficult for visitors to access, but in this book Al Lilay attempts to decipher them through words and more than 2,000 interviews with nationals and expatriates. Still, the publication is not meant to be taken too seriously.

5. View from Riyadh

Mohammad Al Faraj speaks during the Art Basel Awards Night in Miami Beach at New World Symphony on December 04, 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Art Basel)

6. By the numbers

• Saudi Arabia published 218 new book titles in 2024, marking a five-year high for the category despite an overall decline in literary output, according to the Ministry of Culture’s latest State of Culture report.
• Total literary production fell to 509 books, down from 523 in 2023.
• Film production also declined slightly, with 83 films produced in 2024 compared to 102 the previous year.