RIYADH: The first Salone del Mobile Milano in Saudi Arabia has helped to link creatives of the Kingdom and Italy ahead of a fair planned for next year, according to the organizers.
The event, which concluded on Nov. 28 after a three-day run at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, was held under the theme “Red in Progress.”
The event was inaugurated by Rakan Al-Touq, assistant minister of culture. The opening ceremony was attended by Prince Nawaf bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, acting CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission, and Antonio Tajani, Italy’s deputy prime minister, and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.
Prince Nawaf said: “Hosting the world’s leading design and furniture exhibition in Riyadh reflects Saudi Arabia’s rising position within the global design landscape.”
He added that the partnership aims “to build a sustainable ecosystem where collaboration between Saudi Arabian and Italian designers drive innovation, knowledge exchange, and long-term opportunities.”
Maria Porro, president of Salone del Mobile Milano, said: “We believe great design emerges from dialogue, and today, Italian and Saudi Arabian designers are speaking to each other with curiosity, respect, and imagination.”
She told Arab News that the “extraordinary energy” of the Saudi Arabia design scene was the primary reason for organizing the event.
The demand was not for quick solutions, but meaningful ones, and spaces “rooted in Saudi Arabian identity, yet open to global innovation,” Porro added.
She urged young Saudi designers to understand their own culture and connect it to global practice. “Don’t try to imitate, try to contribute,” she said.
The “world is ready to hear new voices from Saudi Arabia,” she added.
Porro said that while luxury and brand remain important, sustainability was “no longer a secondary consideration” but “a real design driver.”
The exhibition featured 38 Italian brands presenting furniture, interiors, materials, lighting, and product innovation.
The Architecture and Design Commission presented its national initiative “Designed in Saudi,” which spotlighted emerging product designers from the Kingdom.
A dedicated handicrafts pavilion curated by the Ministry of Culture showcased Saudi Arabia artisans. In collaboration with the Royal Institute for Traditional Arts, the pavilion displayed an artistic piece titled “Nasaj” which incorporated five traditional crafts.
A cultural program of 13 talks and masterclasses ran for the duration of the event. The program opened with a keynote session titled “Shaping the Future of Design: Milan meets Riyadh,” featuring Prince Nawaf and Porro.
The participants discussed urban design, sustainable architecture, the impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries, and the preservation of craft traditions.
