Saudi Arabia shines at Venice Architecture Biennale

Welcome to Al-Monitor Riyadh.

This week, we're spotlighting Saudi Arabia’s presence at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, which begins with a pre-opening program ahead of its public launch on May 10. Plus, we highlight a new upscale Indian restaurant making waves in Riyadh.

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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: ‘The Um Slaim School’ opens at Saudi pavilion in Venice

Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi, Syn Architects. (Courtesy of Syn Architects)

Saudi Arabia’s Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale will present “The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection,” an exhibition by Riyadh-based Syn Architects and the Um Slaim Collective. Curated by Beatrice Leanza and assisted by Sara Almutlaq, the show explores Riyadh’s architectural heritage and its relationship to urban and ecological resilience, highlighting how traditional building techniques can address global challenges.

“The Um Slaim School is a foundation for an alternative approach to architectural re-imagining through spatial narratives and materiality,” Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi say in the opening press release. “This pavilion will invite a collective retelling of our effect on the environments we inhabit and our urban histories. Our interest lies in that symbiosis, how our values and ideas shape our world, and how the parameters of our landscapes influence that shaping.”

Founded in 2021, the Um Slaim Collective examines the evolution of traditional Najdi architecture in central Riyadh, blending preservation with contemporary practices. The exhibition uses archival and contemporary works to explore how traditional and modern narratives shape daily life in the city.

Location: Saudi Pavilion, Arsenale, Venice

Dates: Through Nov. 23

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Gymkhana

A view of dishes at Gymkhana in Riyadh. (Courtesy of Gymkhana)

This Michelin-starred favorite, now open in the upscale VIA Riyadh shopping mall, brings the same authentic Indian flavors and exceptional hospitality found in London’s prestigious Mayfair district. Gymkhana, inspired by the elite clubs of India where high society members socialize, play sports and dine, is renowned for its opulent décor that reflects northern Indian architecture and its mouthwatering dishes. In Riyadh, don’t miss the Sikandari Lamb Raan curry or the Wild Muntjac biryani, served with pomegranate and mint raita. There are also plenty of vegetarian options, and be sure to indulge in desserts like the saffron and pistachio ice cream.

Location: VIA Riyadh

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

A drawing of King Abdulaziz International Airport – Hajj Terminal in Jeddah, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 1981. (Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)

• 'Rooted Transience' presented by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation

The Diriyah Biennale Foundation presents “Rooted Transience” at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, showcasing the winning design for the inaugural AlMusalla Prize 2025 at Abbazia Di San Gregorio. Curated by Faysal Tabbarah, the exhibition explores the typology of musallas — temporary, nomadic prayer spaces — highlighting the architectural potential of traditional practices rooted in impermanence and adaptability.

Dates: Through Nov. 23

Location: Abbazia Di San Gregorio, Venice

Find more information here.

• 'The Light Footprint': Diriyah Art Futures

“The Light Footprint,” curated by Marta Francocci, showcases the architectural vision behind Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale 2025. Designed by Italian firm Schiattarella Associati, the exhibition features models, sketches, videos and photographs to reveal the project’s conceptual roots in Riyadh’s Diriyah district. “Our work begins with the belief that architecture must resist the global flattening of cultural identity by embracing the uniqueness of place,” said architects Amadeo and Andrea Schiattarella in the opening press release. "With Diriyah Art Futures, we sought to create something deeply rooted in the local context, which draws on natural materials, historical continuity and the values of the Najdi tradition to build a contemporary language tied to its environment.”

Dates: Through June 15

Location: Querini Stampalia Foundation, Venice

Find more information here.

• The Inaugural Downtown Design Riyadh

The Art Dubai Group is hosting the first-ever Downtown Design in Riyadh this month, held in the JAX District in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission. This marks the Kingdom’s debut fair for high-end contemporary design. Exhibitors include Huda Lighting, showcasing brands like Tom Dixon and Brokis, and The Bowery Company, featuring Scandinavian furniture from Audo Copenhagen and GUBI. Teeb Made will present Saudi-inspired objects, while the Designed in Saudi initiative highlights emerging industrial design. Limited-edition pieces from global names like Draga & Aurel and Christophe Delcourt will also be on display.

Dates: May 20-23

Location: JAX District, Diriyah, Riyadh

Find more information here

4. Book of the week: “Preserving the Saudi Monarchy”

This book offers fresh insights into the history of Saudi Arabia and its monarchy, shedding light on the nation's leadership and decision-making processes. Samuel E. Willner examines the evolution of Saudi decision-making before, during, and after key events such as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, the subsequent Arab oil embargo, the 1975 assassination of King Faisal, and Saudi responses to the Carter Presidency. By delving into this pivotal period, the book reveals how political and socio-economic events have shaped the kingdom's leadership and continue to influence its trajectory today.

5. View from Riyadh: Hayat Osamah

A shoot by Hayat Osamah for Vogue Arabia Man. (Courtesy of Hayat Osamah and Vogue Arabia Man)

Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1992, Hayat Osamah lived there for most of her life before relocating to Riyadh, where she is currently based. In 2009, she decided to pursue fashion photography, starting with her first “point-and-shoot” digital camera. Her artistic vision began to take shape in 2014 when she made diversity a central theme of her work. Known for her edgy approach, Osamah captures the essence of Saudi youth during a time of significant transformation in the country. From cover stories for top fashion magazines like Vogue Arabia to photographing the intersection of heritage and fashion in the historic district of Diriyah, her pioneering images have broken boundaries. Osamah has received numerous accolades, including the Kingdom Photography Award in 2025 and GQ Middle East’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award in 2020.

6. By the numbers

• Saudi Arabia ranks among the top 10 countries for coffee consumption, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) in 2023.
• In 2025, Saudi Arabia's coffee market is projected to reach a total volume of 49.85 million kilograms, with 2.37 million kilograms consumed outside the home and 47.48 million kilograms consumed at home, according to Statista.
• The average annual household coffee consumption in the kingdom is expected to be 1.25 kilograms per person, with the market projected to generate $27.44 million in revenue, as per Statista.