Saudi design takes on water access at London Biennale

Welcome to Al-Monitor Riyadh.

This week, we spotlight the Saudi National Pavilion at the London Design Biennale, which explores systems of water access and distribution; two exhibitions in Jeddah honoring the work of pioneering Saudi modern artists; a restaurant in AlUla serving traditional Saudi cuisine; and Sadu House, a three-day cultural event organized by the Saudi Music Commission in London.

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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: “Good Water” at the London Design Biennale

Nonpotable water truck, 2025. Photo by Aziz Jamal. (Courtesy of the Architecture and Design Commission)

Access to clean water is one of the world’s most urgent challenges. Although nearly 70% of Earth’s surface is covered in water, only 2.5% is freshwater, representing a tiny fraction of the planet’s total supply. While this scarcity is a global issue, it is especially acute in Saudi Arabia, an arid country where, despite widespread access, water remains critically limited.

Saudi Arabia returns to the London Design Biennale this month with a pavilion titled “Good Water,” which questions and reimagines the systems behind water access and distribution. At its center is a functioning sabeel — a traditional public water fountain found across Gulf countries that symbolizes generosity and communal care. Here, the sabeel becomes a lens through which to examine the often-invisible infrastructures governing water access, and a prompt to reflect on equity, scarcity and resource distribution.

Commissioned by Saudi Arabia’s Architecture and Design Commission, the exhibition is curated by a multidisciplinary collective: Alaa Tarabzouni, Aziz Jamal, Dur Kattan and Fahad bin Naif.

“In cities where sabeel are commonplace, their presence is often taken for granted, their function seen as a simple act of public service. But by relocating this familiar structure to the London Design Biennale, where water scarcity is not an everyday concern, we reframe it as an object of scrutiny. We aim to force a shift in perception, making the invisible visible, the passive active,” the designers state in the opening press release.

Visually, the pavilion departs from the polished aesthetic typical of high design. Instead, it embraces a raw, utilitarian approach: water tanks and infrastructure are left fully exposed, inviting visitors to engage with the physical and mechanical realities behind what is often perceived as the simple act of dispensing water.

Dates: Through June 29

Location: Somerset House, London

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Joontos

Bread-making at Dar Tantora The House Hotel, every morning from 7 to 11 a.m., at Joontos AlUla. (Courtesy of Dar Tantora)

Dar Tantora in AlUla, constructed entirely with traditional earth-building techniques, houses a restaurant serving authentic Saudi cuisine. Developed by Michelin Star Chef Jaume Puigdengolas, Joontos offers a variety of specially prepared Saudi dishes that combine culinary artistry with rich local gastronomical heritage using ingredients from the desert oasis of AlUla. Be sure to try the lamb shank with saffron and raisin rice, fresh seasonal salads like charred cauliflower with romesco dip, and the Kasba — a fragrant rice dish cooked with spices, meat (often goat, lamb or chicken) and vegetables, and a staple of Saudi cuisine. 

Location: Dar Tantora Hotel, AlUla

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

Sadu House’s Cafe and Record Store by Bohemia Cafe and Records during the opening event of Sadu House, on June 2, 2025, in London, United Kingdom. (Courtesy of the Saudi Music Commission)

• Saudi Music Commission stages Sadu House in London

Sadu House, a three-day cultural program led by Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission, will debut this week at SXSW London, an annual conference and music festival gathering creatives in the realm of film and music. Inspired by the traditional Bedouin weaving art of Sadu, the event features live performances, workshops and panels spanning music, film, fashion and tech. Rooted in Saudi heritage, the initiative brings together public entities — including the Film, Fashion and Culinary Arts commissions — and private partners like MDLBEAST Records, Billboard Arabia and Bohemia Records, aiming to fuse tradition with innovation in the heart of London.

Dates: Through June 7

Location: Various venues, Shoreditch, London, United Kingdom

Find more information here.

• “Safeya Binzagr: For Us to Remember”

Nearly a year after her passing, a legacy exhibition in Jeddah curated by Effat Fadag honors the pioneering spirit of Safeya Binzagr — one of Saudi Arabia’s most influential artists. Part of the annual Balad Al Fann festival, the exhibition celebrates Binzagr’s profound impact on Saudi culture, identity and heritage. Alongside her artworks, the show features personal artifacts, photographs and interviews, offering an intimate glimpse into her artistic journey and personal life.

Dates: Through June 15

Location: Nassif Boutique, Historic Jeddah

Find more information here.

• “Hisham Benjabi: Memory of the City, the People and the Nation”

Also part of Balad Al Fann, this exhibition pays tribute to one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent plastic artists. Renowned for his paintings and sculptures — many depicting Saudi kings and royals — he became a distinguished figure in the kingdom’s cultural landscape. The exhibition includes personal artifacts, photographs and reflections, offering an intimate portrait of his life and work and honoring his enduring impact on Saudi art — particularly in his hometown of Jeddah.

Dates: Through June 15

Location: Nassif Boutique, Historic Jeddah

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: “The World for Sale”

Amid energy crises, food shortages and persistent geopolitical rifts, this compelling book by journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy explores the hidden world of commodity traders who keep the global economy running. From Saudi crude fueling US refineries to Congolese cobalt powering Silicon Valley tech and Russian gas heating European homes, the authors reveal the behind-the-scenes power of traders shaping some of today’s most consequential global shifts.

5. View from Riyadh

The first tanker of exportable petroleum prepares to set sail with King Abdulaziz present. (Courtesy of Saudi Aramco)

The foundations of Saudi Arabia’s future prosperity — and that of Aramco — were laid in 1938 with the start of commercial oil production at Dammam No. 7, known as the Prosperity Well. The first crude oil shipment followed on May 1, 1939, witnessed by King Abdulaziz.

6. By the numbers

• Despite 97% of the population having access to potable water, Saudi Arabia continues to face severe water scarcity.
• The kingdom relies heavily on desalination, which accounts for 50% of its distributed water, according to the International Trade Administration.
• In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced an $80 billion allocation for water projects over the coming years, as part of the country’s efforts to ensure universal and equitable access to clean and affordable drinking water.