Eid under watch

Welcome to AL-MONITOR Riyadh.

The third week of the US-Israel war with Iran coincides with Eid al-Fitr across the Middle East, but in Saudi Arabia, celebrations are unfolding under heightened tension. In Riyadh, residents received their first emergency safety alerts this week as missile interceptions intensified.

Authorities have increased precautions and urged vigilance during the holiday period, even as public life continues. While major events such as the Formula 1 race in Jeddah have been cancelled, much of the Kingdom’s cultural calendar is still moving forward — albeit more quietly and with a visible sense of caution.

This week, we highlight Eid celebrations across Saudi Arabia alongside an exhibition rooted in traditional palm weaving.

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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: Eid al-Fitr Celebrations

Middle Eastern Friends Sharing Festive Meal with Lanterns. (Getty Images Stock Photo)

Eid al-Fitr is underway across Saudi Arabia, coinciding with a period of heightened tension in the region. In Riyadh, residents received their first emergency safety alerts on March 18 as missile interceptions intensified across the capital.

Authorities have urged caution during the holiday period, advising against large gatherings and encouraging vigilance due to the risk of falling debris from intercepted drones and missiles.

Even so, Eid festivities are moving ahead across the Kingdom. In Jeddah, the Eid Destination on the Promenade features folk shows, concerts and performances, while in Riyadh, Boulevard City and Boulevard World remain open with extended hours. Fireworks displays are also planned in both cities, reflecting a quieter but ongoing holiday atmosphere.

2. Word on the street: Auria

A view of zesty dishes at Auria, a new upscale restaurant in Riyadh. (Courtesy Auria)

For a meal out over Eid, Auria — a fine-dining restaurant in Riyadh that opened in early 2026 — offers international cuisine with regional touches. Led by Chef Richard, the venue pairs an upscale yet warm ambiance with service throughout the day, including a curated iftar menu featuring a five-course feast with multiple options per course. Standouts include lentil or jareesh soup for a local touch, alongside a zesty fattoush salad, followed by mains such as slow-roasted lamb gigot with oriental rice, oven-roasted chicken with kabsa rice, crispy shrimp tempura, lobster kari and grilled prime Angus fillet.

Location: The Drop Avenue Plaza on Takhassusi Street, Riyadh

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

A view of Tirhal: To Al-Ahsa in the exhibition Eternal Crafts: Communal Weaving at Ithra. (Photography by Bader Awwad AlBalaw)

• ‘Eternal Crafts: Communal Weaving’ 

This exhibition centers on Tirhal: To Al-Ahsa, a commissioned large-scale installation by artist Abeer Seikaly, developed during a four-day residency at the Julayjilah palm farm in Al-Ahsa. Created in collaboration with local weavers Masouma Al Hamdan and Fatima Al-Mousa and hosted by farm owner Jasim Al-Mousa, the work draws on the traditional craft of khoos — weaving palm fronds into functional and artistic forms. Conceived with curator Meshal Al-Obaidallah, the project explores weaving as both material practice and shared ritual, using the palm tree as a symbol of protection, sustenance and continuity, while reflecting on how knowledge is passed across generations and geographies.

“The Tirhal project grew out of Abeer’s ongoing expeditions,” Al-Obaidallah told Al-Monitor. “Whenever I call Abeer, she is always on the go and traveling, mainly to Jordan’s Badia desert where she works with Bedouin weavers. I worked with her to position the Tirhal project as a travelogue. Tirhal is the Arabic word for ‘journey.’”

Date: Until May 30

Location: Ithra: King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Dhahran

Find more information here. 

• ‘Joy Beyond Imagination’ Eid Al-Fitr at Ithra

This Eid, Ithra — the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture — is transforming its spaces over three days into immersive, multi-sensory environments designed to spark creativity and play. Running daily from 4pm to 11pm, the program features interactive activities, live performances and workshops, including Where Science Meets Imagination, Roaming Wonders in the Lush Garden and Dream Rhythms and World of Illusions at the Plaza. Entry to the center is free, though select programs such as the Children’s Museum require paid admission.

Date: March 21-23

Location: Ithra: King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Dhahran

Find more information here.

• Eid with a visit to the Tariq Abdulhakim Center for Saudi music

Located in the historic heart of Jeddah, the Tariq Abdulhakim Center offers an immersive look into the life and legacy of one of Saudi Arabia’s most celebrated musicians and composers. The museum features personal artifacts, musical compositions and multimedia displays that trace his influence on modern Saudi music and culture.

Abdulhakim (1919–2012) served nearly 30 years in the Saudi army before becoming widely known as the “General of Saudi Music” and the “Dean of the modern Saudi song.”

Location: Al-Balad, the historic district of Jeddah

Find more information here.

4. Book of the week: ‘Axis of Empire’

This timely book by Afshin Matin-Asgari, a professor of history at California State University, Los Angeles, offers an accessible overview of US-Iran relations. It traces key moments in the relationship, from America’s rise as an interventionist power in the Middle East and its ties to the ousted Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to the Islamic Revolution and Israel’s role in the present-day conflict.

5. View from Mecca

Muslim worshippers gather around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on March 20, 2026 for the early morning prayers for Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

6. By the numbers

• According to the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2026, Saudi Arabia ranks first in the Middle East for women’s empowerment and has recorded the highest global improvement in supportive frameworks.
• In 2023, Saudi Arabia raised its target for women’s labor force participation to 40% by 2030, after already surpassing its initial Vision 2030 goal of 30%.