Your guide to Art Week Riyadh: From flagship shows to studio tours in JAX District

Wael Shawky’s ‘The Gulf Project Camp,’ Carved wood, 2019, Oil on carved wood. (Supplied)
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Updated 26 March 2025
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Your guide to Art Week Riyadh: From flagship shows to studio tours in JAX District

RIYADH: Art Week Riyadh’s inaugural edition is set to take place from April 6-13 under the theme “At The Edge.” The event will feature works from more than 45 galleries, private and institutional collections, and a public program of talks — here is your guide to getting the best out of Art Week Riyadh. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Flagship exhibition: ‘At The Edge’

First up, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the event’s flagship exhibition which is curated around three thematic threads — “Everyday Life,” “Landscapes,” and “Motifs.”




Bashaer Hawsawi’s ‘Warm Space 1,’ 2018, Red Broom with African Cloth. (Courtesy of Hafez Gallery and the artist)

The exhibition features contributions from prominent galleries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, including A. Gorgi Gallery (Tunisia), Ahlam Gallery (Saudi Arabia), Albareh Art Gallery (Bahrain), Al Markhiya Gallery (Qatar), L’Art Pur Gallery (Saudi Arabia), AV Gallery (Saudi Arabia), Ayyam Gallery (UAE, UK), Carbon 12 (UAE), Efie Gallery (UAE), Experimenter (India), Galerie Krinzinger (Austria), Gallery Misr (Egypt), Galerie La La Lande (France), Galleria Continua (Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Italy, UAE), Green Art Gallery (UAE), Hewar Art Gallery (Saudi Arabia), Hunna Art (Kuwait), Lawrie Shabibi (UAE), Layan Culture (Saudi Arabia), Le LAB (Egypt), Leila Heller Gallery (UAE, USA), Lisson Gallery (China, UK, USA), Mennour (France, UK), Nature Morte (India), Perrotin (China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, USA), Sabrina Amrani (Spain), Selma Feriani (Tunisia), The Pill® (France, Turkey), The Third Line (UAE), Tabari Artspace (UAE) and Wadi Finan Art Gallery (Jordan). 

Al Mousa Center in central Riyadh

Up next, visitors should head over to the Al Mousa Center in central Riyadh where more than 15 galleries will present both solo and group exhibitions specially conceived for Art Week Riyadh.

Once a bustling commercial complex, the center is now a cultural destination that houses around 20 art galleries. Galleries participating in Art Week Riyadh include Abdullah Hammas Studio, Abstract Art Gallery, Ahlam Gallery, Alajilan Gallery, Alestudio, AMA Art Venue, Art Arif Gallery, Art Connection, AV Gallery, China Saudi Cultural Art Association, ERRM Art Gallery, Frame Art Gallery, Kadi Art Gallery, Kenz Gallery, Mahd Alfnon Gallery, Marsami Art Gallery, Ola Art Gallery, Takeib For Arts, Tequin Art Gallery, WHJ ALLON and Wrd Art Gallery.

Invited exhibitions

JAX District will also host three exhibitions by invited collections, offering a rare insight into Saudi Arabia’s evolving cultural identity. Presented under the title “Collections in Dialogue,” these exhibitions emphasize the role of patronage and collecting in shaping and preserving visual culture.

The section includes a curated presentation of artworks from the collection of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). Featuring works by artists such as Do Ho Suh, Maha Malluh, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mohammad Alfaraj, Hazem Harb, Gregory Mahoney, Moath Alofi, and Sultan bin Fahad, the exhibition highlights the interplay between material memory, transformation, and the landscapes that shape identity.




Neïl Beloufa’s ‘Double Standard,’ canyon, 2024, MDF and rubbio varnish. Neil Beloufa, Adagp, Paris, 2025, Photo. Archives Mennour. (Courtesy the artist and Mennour, Paris)

Meanwhile, Art Jameel will present a selection of eight single-channel artworks from its collection that highlight the diverse and evolving landscape of experimental film and video art practices in the region. This presentation brings together video works by artists from Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, largely made in the 2010s, that reflect on a decade marked by profound transformations. Many of the featured works are early and foundational works by major artists such as Ahaad Alamoudi, Hiwa K, Bouchra Khalili, Basim Magdy, Ahmed Mater, and others. 

Also, “Abstract Horizons: Three Generations of Saudi Art” by the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG) will go on show. Borrowing its title from a work by Saudi artist Mohammed Al-Saleem, the exhibition draws from SRMG’s collection to explore the progression of Saudi abstraction through the practices of key figures such as Al-Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi and Taha Al-Sabban, who merged global influences with local traditions. Their legacy is reinterpreted by a new generation of creatives, including Raeda Ashour, Rashed AlShashai and Zaman Jassim.

Talks, workshops and studio tours

A series of talks and workshops will reflect on themes and questions facing the visual arts in Riyadh, more widely in Saudi Arabia, and around the world. Curated by Shumon Basar and titled “How to Art World? Lessons in Value,” the program will run at JAX District.

A “Moving Image” program will highlight the medium’s capacity to explore complex personal, cultural and social narratives, and feature the work of Theaster Gates, Zineb Sedira, Hicham Berrada, Bani Abidi, Laurent Grasso, Afra Al Dhaheri, Mohamed Bourouissa, Sarah Brahim, Farideh Lashai, and Hashel Al-Lamki.

At JAX District, some of Saudi Arabia’s leading artists — including Ahmed Mater, Ayman Zedani, Marwah AlMugait, and Muhannad Shono — will open the doors to their studios, while resident galleries Athr, Hafez and Lift will present a lineup of exhibitions, panel discussions, and interactive workshops. 

The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) will present the exhibitions titled “Art of the Kingdom” and “Adaptability Ceramics,” alongside a series of workshops and pop-ups.


Kneecap rapper Mo Chara bailed over terror charge in the UK

Updated 18 June 2025
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Kneecap rapper Mo Chara bailed over terror charge in the UK

LONDON: Fans of the Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap mobbed sidewalks outside a London court Wednesday as a member of the trio faced a terror-related charge in what he says is a politically motivated effort to silence the band’s support for Palestinians before its appearance at the Glastonbury Festival.

Rapper Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, was released on unconditional bail after the hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 20.

Irish rap group Kneecap band member, Liam O'Hanna, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on June 18, 2025. (AFP)

The single charge against Chara stems from a Nov. 21 concert in north London where he waved a Hezbollah flag in a manner that aroused “reasonable suspicion” he supported the Lebanese militant group, which is banned in Britain as a terrorist organization, the Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement last month.

Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court on Wednesday Chara wasn’t being prosecuted because of his support for the Palestinians or criticism of Israel.

“He’s well within his rights to voice his opinions and solidarity, as is anybody else,’’ Bisgrove said. “The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr. O hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organization, while saying ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah.’’’

Kneecap has supported the Palestinian cause throughout the war in Gaza. The band has been the center of controversy in Britain since last year, when the previous government sought to block an arts grant for the band, citing its anti-British politics. That decision was overturned after the Labour Party won last year’s parliamentary election and Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office.

The trio is scheduled to perform at Glastonbury on Saturday, alongside performers including Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo. The internationally watched music festival is a five-day event that attracts about 200,000 people to a farm outside the small town in western England every summer.

As they entered the courthouse, the three Kneecap members, who hail from Northern Ireland, gave the thumbs up sign to hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside, waving signs reading: “Free Mo Chara” and “Defend Kneecap.”

The group has repeatedly said it doesn’t support Hezbollah or Hamas, nor condone violence.
Before the hearing, the band posted billboards around London bearing the slogan “More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara.” The message echoes the signs landlords placed in the windows of some London boarding houses in the 1950s, stating “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish.”

“British courts have long charged people from the North of Ireland with ‘terrorism’ for crimes never committed,” Kneecap said in a statement posted on social media. “We will fight them. We will win.”


Amira Al-Zuhair celebrates her birthday 

Updated 18 June 2025
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Amira Al-Zuhair celebrates her birthday 

DUBAI: Birthday tributes poured in for part-Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair, who celebrated her 24th birthday this week.

From producer Kawther Alrimawi to lifestyle publication Hia Magazine, fashion and entertainment industry insiders took to social media to wish the runway star a happy birthday.

The model wrapped up shooting a campaign for an unnamed brand in Milan when the clock struck midnight. She marked the beginning of her birthday with a candle-topped dessert at a restaurant in the Italian city.

Instagram/ @amiraalzuhair

Al-Zuhair, born in Paris to a French mother and Saudi father, has made her mark on the fashion world and appeared on the runway for an array of renowned fashion houses such as Missoni, Maison Alaia, Brunello Cucinelli, Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, Giambattista Valli, Giorgio Armani, Elie Saab and many more.

In addition to her runway appearances, Al-Zuhair has featured in campaigns for high-profile brands such as Prada, Chanel and Carolina Herrera.

Al-Zuhair returned to the runway in May when she walked in Louis Vuitton’s high jewelry collection show, held at Bellver Castle on the island of Majorca, Spain.

The show marked her return to the runway after she hit the catwalk at the amfAR gala in Cannes in May, before which she walked for Australian label Zimmermann at Paris Fashion Week in March.  

For Louis Vuitton, the model wore a strapless white gown featuring a fitted bodice and a soft, flowing skirt. The dress was detailed with cascading ruffles outlined in dark trim, which ran down the front and sides.

She also made a statement at the Zimmermann show wearing a burnt-orange ensemble. The sleeveless, fitted dress featured draped, ruched detailing that added movement to the design. The look was finished off with strappy brown leather sandals and gold accessories, including chandelier earrings and bracelets.

In late May, Al-Zuhair also reflected on her recent campaign with Balmain, sharing photos from the Resort 2025 collection shoot. “Had so much fun shooting inside the Eiffel Tower herself!” she wrote in the caption.

It was not Al-Zuhair’s first collaboration with Balmain. She previously walked for the brand during Paris Fashion Week in September.


Toronto Arab Film Festival showcases diverse selection this June

Updated 18 June 2025
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Toronto Arab Film Festival showcases diverse selection this June

DUBAI: The Toronto Arab Film Festival returns for its sixth annual edition with a diverse lineup from June 20 to 29.

“This year, we are screening over 50 films — both features and shorts — which is our largest number to date … it’s fulfilling to watch the development of the Canadian-Arab film industry in real time,” Rolla Tahir, a Sudanese filmmaker and co-founder of TAF, said.

This year’s program reflects the growing diversity and creative evolution of Arab cinema, with some well-known filmmakers participating.

“We’re seeing a notable rise in genre films, especially horror and sci-fi. For example, there’s a horror film from Tunisia and a short program dedicated entirely to sci-fi and horror,” Tahir said.

Participants this year include Lebanese filmmaker Mira Shabib with her film “Arze’” and “Back to Alexandria” by Tamer Ruggli starring Lebanese actress Nadine Labaki.

TAF has also become a valuable platform for professional development, offering networking opportunities for both emerging and established talent.

“This year, we’re introducing an informal industry meet-and-greet — a casual networking event with no structured pitches,” Tahir explained.

The event is designed to create a relaxed environment where Arab filmmakers can connect with industry professionals, ask candid questions, and introduce their projects without the pressure of formal presentations.

The festival’s mission may seem simple — to raise awareness of Arab cinema among Canadian audiences — but achieving that impact requires a deliberate strategy.

It is one that Tahir and her co-founders have refined over the years.

“Each year, we collaborate with other festivals to co-present films and expand outreach beyond Arab audiences,” she said.

For Tahir, the appeal of Arab cinema to non-Arab audiences comes naturally, thanks to the enduring quality and resilience of the work itself.

“What stands out is perseverance. Regardless of what’s happening in our countries or personal lives, Arab filmmakers continue telling their stories.”

It is that very perseverance — expressed through everything from harrowing documentaries to satirical comedies — that gives Arab filmmakers their distinct voice.

“I want people to know we’re still making films — and that we’re making different, bold, and innovative ones,” Tahir said.


Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Salman joins King Charles at Royal Ascot opening

Updated 18 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Salman joins King Charles at Royal Ascot opening

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud joined the UK’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot, one of the most prestigious equestrian racing events in the world.

Prince Faisal appeared alongside the British royals in the lead royal carriage that opened the official procession at the racecourse, just south of Windsor in the UK.  

Lady Sarah Keswick also joined the lead carriage alongside Prince Faisal, King Charles III and Queen Camilla. A close friend of the queen, she is a key member of the Queen’s Companions.

Following the royal procession, Prince Faisal joined the royal enclosure to watch the first day of races. (Getty Images)

Following the royal procession, Prince Faisal, a grandson of King Abdulaziz and son of King Salman, joined members of the British royal family, including Princess Beatrice and Zara Tindall, in the royal enclosure to watch the first day of races.

Royal Ascot remains a major fixture on the British social calendar, drawing global political and royal elites.

Arab royalty has played an increasingly visible role at the event in recent years. In 2024, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa of Bahrain — the crown prince and prime minister — attended the event as a guest of honor, representing Bahrain’s royal family.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, has become a prominent figure in the racing world through his Wathnan Racing team. 

The organization has achieved notable success at Royal Ascot, including a win in the 2023 Gold Cup. 

Queen Camilla, King Charles III and Prince Saud bin Khalid Abdullah attended day 2 of Royal Ascot 2023 at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England. (Getty Images)

Prince Saud bin Khalid — son of the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Saud, the legendary Saudi breeder behind Juddmonte Farms — was also seen attending the second day of the Royal Ascot in 2023, alongside King Charles III.


Designer Alina Anwar takes over Times Square

Updated 17 June 2025
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Designer Alina Anwar takes over Times Square

DUBAI: Dubai-based designer Alina Anwar, founder of Alina Anwar Couture, this week appeared on a digital billboard in Times Square, New York.

Well known for dressing celebrities in Hollywood and Bollywood, including Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Kareena Kapoor and Idina Menzel, Anwar has expanded her reach internationally with her gowns and suits.

The billboard featured Anwar, who is famous for her structured silhouettes and feminine designs, wearing a red sequined skirt from her own collection, accompanied by her brand’s statement: “My aim is to empower women through powerful dressing and to set them on a path of personal freedom and possibilities.”

In a statement she said: “I created this brand to empower women, to make them feel confident, unstoppable and seen. To have that vision now broadcast in Times Square is surreal, but it’s also just the beginning.”

Anwar’s brand is a luxury eveningwear label that creates gowns and tea-length dresses using contemporary couture techniques and French finishing. The brand’s pieces feature fine fabrics and detailed tailoring, and are made in the UAE.

In 2019, her work gained global attention when US singer Mariah Carey wore one of her designs in a remake of the “All I Want for Christmas Is You” music video, released to mark the song’s 25th anniversary. Carey wore a pine green, fully sequined, long-sleeved cocktail dress with a scooped neckline, designed by Anwar.

“I hope to see more and more Hollywood stars wear my brand and as a Dubai-based fashion label, I am so overwhelmed by the trust that they are giving me. I am here to advocate UAE-made products (that) are world-class,” Anwar said at the time.

Anwar is not the only regional figure to appear on a Times Square billboard.

Several Arab artists have featured in recent years.

Egyptian singer Amr Diab became the first Arab musical artist to appear on a Spotify billboard in Times Square in 2019.

Since then, others have followed, including Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna, who was featured in December as part of Spotify Arabia’s “EQUAL” campaign spotlighting female artists from the region.