Saudi National Day takes shape
Also this week: AlUla’s young artists take over, Kayzo lands in Jeddah and Saudi design meets heritage.
1. Leading the week: Saudi National Day art in Jeddah |
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Ahaad Alamoudi. “My hopes and your dreams.” 2021. Action figure with video installation. 8.0 x 4.0 cm. Duration: 5 minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo courtesy of the artist and ATHR Gallery) |
Sept. 23, 2026, marks the 96th Saudi National Day. To celebrate the occasion, ATHR Gallery, a leading Saudi contemporary art platform, is hosting a public open day in the heart of historic Jeddah. The cultural exhibition highlights the kingdom’s evolving contemporary art scene, bringing striking creative expressions into the public realm at Bait Shouaib in Al-Balad. Visitors can explore monumental outdoor sculptures by Saudi artists Ahaad Alamoudi and Sultan Bin Fahad. The showcase also features a diverse selection of indoor works by leading regional artists, including Rami Farook, Basma Felemban, Sara Abu Abdullah, Asmaa Bahmim, Reem Al Nasser and Sara Alem. “This exhibition is a reflection of our identity, showcasing the generosity, courage, ambition, and authenticity that shape us as Saudis. As we honor our rich history, we welcome you to AlBalad, to witness the values that unite us and inspire our future,” said Mohammed Hafiz, co-founder of ATHR, in the exhibition’s opening press release. Dates: Sept. 23-24 Location: Bait Shouaib, Al Balad, Historic Jeddah Find more information here. |
2. Word on the street: Kayzo |
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An interior view of Kayzo in Riyadh. (Photo courtesy of Kayzo) |
Craving Japanese cuisine with an Arabian twist? Saudi-born Japanese restaurant Kayzo is expanding to Jeddah, with an opening slated for later this year at Westfield Jeddah, marking the brand’s first opening in the Red Sea city. Kayzo established its presence in Riyadh in 2023, first opening at Oud Square in the Diplomatic Quarter before moving to Tahlia Street. Part of Modern Food Company (MFC), founded by Saudi Faisal Shaker, Kayzo operates as a sister concept to Myazu in Riyadh. Listed in the MICHELIN Guide Saudi Arabia, the restaurant features colorful, imaginative sushi and maki dishes alongside a selection of mains, including Beef Takikomi Gohan finished with a decadent truffle butter; Kimchi Fried Rice, a personal favorite of Saudi Chef Rayan AlAyesh; and Chansan Maki, a popular sushi roll made with Gulf prawns, red pepper, avocado and spicy mayo. Be sure to pair your meal with one of Kayzo’s creatively concocted mocktails. Location: Westfield, Jeddah Find more information here. |
3. Riyadh diary |
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A young artist from AlUla mentored by Saudi artist Sahrish Ali during his “AlUla and Nature Eco Expedition” workshop held at ATHR Gallery in October 2024. The work is untitled and created with watercolor on paper. (Photo courtesy of ATHR Gallery) |
AlUla’s youth are reimagining the classic childhood game in ATHR Gallery’s upcoming exhibition “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” Celebrating local youth creativity, the show transforms AlUla’s ancient landscape into an open playground for imagination. Saudi artists Ahmed Haddad, Samia Khashoggi, Sahrish Ali, Pharah Al-Ghalib and Zaynab Odunsi led workshops mentoring local artists. Participants used hand gestures and locally foraged materials as catalysts for artistic spontaneity, creating sculptures from natural clay sediments that preserve decaying flora, intricate works on paper detailing local botanical life and works using scissors to reconfigure mundane cardboard into self-portraits. Together, these photographs and geometric works capture snapshots of the local landscape through a practice driven by curiosity. Date: Sept. 23 - Dec. 23 Location: AlJadidah Arts District, AlUla Find more information here.
Saudi Arabia's modern interior design landscape will take center stage at a major showcase. Held under the theme “Built on Heritage. Designed for Tomorrow,” the exhibition explores the deep, evolving ties between traditional Saudi material culture and contemporary aesthetics. Attendees can expect a forward-looking curatorial approach that honors the kingdom’s rich regional identity while embracing global innovations in contemporary design. Dates: Sept. 15-17 Location: Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC), Riyadh Find more information here.
Hosted by the Misk Art Institute at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall in Riyadh, this specialized five-day masterclass explores traditional calligraphic arts through exhibitions and hands-on training. The program introduces participants to contemporary Saudi calligraphy and shows how this evolving visual practice merges the classical aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy with Saudi Arabia’s unique cultural identity. Through rigorous hands-on exercises focused on letter formation, composition and contemporary design techniques, attendees will learn to develop a distinct visual identity, bringing heritage into dialogue with contemporary artistic expression. Dates: Sept. 13-17 Location: Misk Art Institute, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall, Riyadh Find more information here. |
4. Book of the week: ‘Dust Settles North’ |
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| In her debut novel “Dust Settles North,” Egyptian-American author Deena ElGenaidi delivers an emotionally charged tale that brilliantly captures the fractures of identity in post-revolution Egypt. Set against the turbulent backdrop of Cairo in 2012, the narrative follows Egyptian-American siblings Hannah and Zain as they navigate intense familial grief and systemic betrayal following their mother’s sudden death. |
5. View from Riyadh |
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People arrive to attend a show as a part of the celebrations for the 88th Saudi National Day at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 23, 2018. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images) |
