Riyadh Season’s The Groves set to open on Nov. 5

File photo from a previous edition of Riyadh Season's The Groves. (AN Photo)
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Updated 02 November 2025
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Riyadh Season’s The Groves set to open on Nov. 5

  • It has been designed to provide visitors with a rich sensory and artistic experience in an elegant atmosphere

RIYADH: The Groves at Riyadh Season is set to open on Nov. 5, with a number of entertainment offerings including live music and art exhibitions.

The highly-anticipated attraction in Riyadh’s Al-Rafiah district features performances and interactive experiences as well as a range of dining options.

It has been designed to provide visitors with a rich sensory and artistic experience in an elegant atmosphere, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Tickets can be booked through the mobile application The Groves for Entertainment.

There will be outdoor seating areas, shopping venues, and upscale cafes surrounded by green spaces.

It also features dedicated family areas and experiences tailored for pets.

The Groves was first introduced in the 2020-2021 Riyadh Season, and was originally held in the Diplomatic Quarter’s Al-Khuzama Park.

General admission to the Groves this year begins at SR55 ($14.67), with additional charges for the various performances and activities.

The zone is open from 4 p.m. to midnight from Saturday to Wednesday, with the opening time extended to 12:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

This year’s Riyadh Season opened on Oct. 10 and attracted more than 1 million people in its first two weeks.

Since it opened, the sixth Riyadh Season has featured major events that have drawn attention from audiences locally and around the world.

It began with a spectacular global parade organized in collaboration with US department store chain Macy’s.

The lineup also included the Joy Forum 2025, which brought together some of the world’s most prominent entertainment leaders and creators, as well as the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament, featuring top stars from the sport.


Lucia festival lights up Swedish Embassy in Riyadh

Updated 11 December 2025
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Lucia festival lights up Swedish Embassy in Riyadh

RIYADH: A celebration of light and traditional choir singing illuminated the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter on Wednesday evening for the country’s Lucia festival.

Based on ancient pre-Christian traditions intertwined with the story of Saint Lucy, who is depicted wearing a crown of candles, the festival is cherished for bringing some respite from the dark Scandinavian winter.

The Riyadh embassy hosted a number of dignitaries and members of the Swedish community in Saudi Arabia, with catering provided by Ikea.

Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Petra Menander spoke to Arab News about the significance of the festival.

“It's a very, very old tradition that leads back to our peasant times when we needed to fight the darkness with light,” she said.

“And so we actually adopted an old tradition from Italy where Lucia comes with light in her hair and that made us all feel very, very comfortable.

“And it’s something that we actually celebrate just as much as the other holidays, like Christmas or so on. It’s inescapable, at all schools, everywhere.”

Holding the festival in Riyadh was particularly special as it not only brought a glimpse of Swedish culture to Saudi Arabia, but also helped Swedish nationals living in the Kingdom reconnect with their homeland.

“I think it’s a very nice way to bring Swedish culture overseas, but it’s also a nice way of getting the Swedish community together,” said Menander.

“We just have many people who come from mixed backgrounds and they’re very happy that they can introduce their children to this tradition even if they’re living very far away from Sweden. So, it’s a very warm feeling for me.”