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CULTURE & HERITAGE

The ultimate guide to Riyadh Season

Riyadh Season is the ultimate showcase of Saudi history, culture and futuristic innovations. All of Saudi can be found in 12 unique zones, each showcasing one aspect of the Kingdom's culture and people...

Riyadh Season is the showcase annual event in Saudi’s cultural calendar, bringing together world-class sport, the best local and international entertainers, and award-winning culinary experiences.

The event started in 2019 with many ‘Seasons’ around the country, Riyadh being the largest, as a way for the Saudi government to showcase the country to the world; it lasted 4 months, attracting 600,000 visitors.

This year there will be over 100 events in 12 distinct zones, ranging from a sports arena to the Riyadh waterfront, displaying the best of Saudi. In 2021, the event included 7,000 events in 14 zones, and in 2022, 8,500 events took place in 15 zones. The Saudis like a festival, so it is no surprise that 2023 is set to be the biggest yet. This year, Riyadh Season kicked off on 28th October with a boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou, football matches between the world’s best teams, and Michelin star dining experiences. Here are some of the 12 zones at this year’s event…

Souq AlAwaleen

Immerse yourself in the charms, scents and sights of a historic Najdi souq, complete with narrow alleyways and hawkers selling spices, wooden handicrafts and traditional clothing. There is a weekly auction inside the souq, with Saudi goods and experiences available to bid on, alongside a calendar of local events showcasing Saudi singing, acting and storytelling. Try your hand haggling for richly scented Oud oils, brightly coloured saffron or jewellery as you listen to the melodic rhythm of traditional folk instruments echoing through the air.

Al-Suwaidi Park

In Riyadh’s largest public park, seven cultures will be showcased across 7 weeks. Each week will bring the sights, sounds and distinctive entertainment style of the seven countries that will be chosen to be represented in this zone. Expect a cultural trip through each country via the medium of folk-dance performances, musical renditions using traditional singing styles and instruments, and food prepared by the country’s best chefs. The countries selected are Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Sudan, along with the Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia, so expect warming curries, comedy shows and a generous serving of local dance performances.

Kingdom Arena

Built in just 60 days especially for Riyadh Season, the Kingdom Arena is an arena of glistening glass and Arabic carved walls that is set to host world-class events. One of the standout events this year will be the Riyadh Motor Show, being held between 5th-9th December. The event will display the newest cars from the best known automotive brands and include an interactive platform where enthusiasts can try the technology for themselves. As the new home of Al Hilal football club, the arena is likely to be used during Season for boxing and the tennis cup to build on its sporting prowess.

The Groves

Tree-lined streets with an open-air glass pavilion and numerous popular restaurants; this is the place to be after dark during Riyadh Season. In Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, the Groves is 35,000-square-metres of shopping and dining. Each restaurant in the zone includes dinner and a show, whether a South African BBQ and Zulu dance troupe at Zama Zulu, Italian pasta with tango at Zodiac Garden, Levantine dishes accompanied by Arabic poetry reading at Khawaja Yanni, or you can enjoy a mocktail in the surreal Polar ice bar.

Food Truck Park

New for 2023, twelve food trucks will have their own zone in Riyadh Season. From 21st December, you will be able to taste your way around the world through some relaxed outdoor eats. 10/10 Burger brings a taste of a US burger joint to Saudi, Seoul Street will serve up hearty bowls of kimchi and bibimbap, and Wings ‘N Waffles will bring a touch of the deep south, offering fried chicken and hearty pancakes. Riyadh Season boasts fine dining restaurants in many of the zones, but the food truck park will offer something less formal when you just want to sit outside with a takeout before heading off to watch a show or sports game.

Boulevard City

The biggest zone in this year’s Riyadh Season, and tripled in size since last year, Boulevard City includes sub-areas, complete with their own activities, shops and restaurants.

Attractions include something for all the family. Blippi is a hands-on educational experience, bringing science and maths to the little ones. Cats n’ Cups is a coffee shop where you can sip your brew in the company of furry felines – because, why not? Then there is the world’s largest football museum, complete with 30,000 football artefacts.

Boulevard World also returns, bigger than before. Travel around the world through themed areas where you will really feel like you are in another land. With exhilarating rides for those that covet an adrenaline rush, Boulevard World has something for everyone.

Via Riyadh

Via Riyadh will be the most luxurious zone at Riyadh Season. The zone will be home to a 5-star hotel, designer brand stores, coffee shops, a state-of-the-art cinema, with reclining chairs, and Michelin star restaurants. The world’s top chefs have been hand-picked to open up shop here, including Wolfgang Puck, who is opening a branch of his Japanese fusion restaurant Spago, and British-Indian restaurant Gymkhana.

Via Riyadh was planned in true Saudi style. The area is surrounded by quiet manicured lawns and trees as old as 850 years old, for when you want an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Roshn Front

Previously named Riyadh Front, the newly envisioned Roshn Front is a mixed-use commercial and events space at this year’s Riyadh Season. This extraordinary urban experience is the place to escape the crowds at this year’s event. Huge fountain lights illuminate at night as coffee shops and restaurants welcome visitors to sample local and international flavours. A number of, yet unnamed, Michelin star chefs are expected to bring their celebrated dishes to Roshn.

Practical information

Visas

It’s surprisingly simple and easy to get an e-Visa for Saudi and the process is very similar to applying for an ESTA for the USA. Over 50 nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-Visa, including people from the UK and USA, with it costing (at the time of writing) 535 Saudi riyals (about £115 or US$143). Applications are swift and nearly all applicants will receive a response within three working days – most within 24 hours. To apply for your Saudi e-Visa, visit the official Saudi Tourism Authority website. If you’re from the USA, UK or the Schengen Area, you can also apply for a visa on arrival into Saudi. It’s slightly cheaper than an e-Visa, too, at SAR480 (about £102 or US$128).

Getting there & around

With plenty of direct flight links from the UK to Saudi, it’s really easy to get to the country. Saudi’s national airline SAUDIA flies to Riyadh three times daily from London Heathrow, while British Airways also offers a regular service from Heathrow with daily flights to the capital. SAUDIA also operates twice daily flights to Jeddah from London Heathrow and daily flights from London Gatwick. If you’re travelling from the US, SAUDIA offers direct flights to Riyadh from both New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as direct flights to Jeddah from New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.

Local customs

To really embrace Saudi life and pay respect towards its traditions, there are a few local customs you should abide when travelling around the country. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers their elbows and below their knees when out in public. If you’re heading to the coast, it’s still expected you dress modestly. When meeting and greeting locals, whether it’s a market stallholder or a private guide, say hello with ‘salam alaykum’, which means ‘peace be upon you’, as well as offering a handshake.

Weather

You might think it’s hot all year round in Saudi but it’s a little more nuanced than that. The best time to visit Riyadh is between October and March, when temperatures can dip as low as 20°C during the daytime and rarely exceed 30°C. Summer months in Riyadh can get extremely hot, with temperatures often above 40°C between June and September.

FAQ

Is English spoken in Saudi?

Arabic is the official national language but English is widely spoken.

What is the currency of Saudi?

The currency of Saudi is the riyal, with the current rate (at the time of writing), around SAR4.76 to the UK£. You’ll need to pre-order money before you travel, as in the UK it’s not usually stocked in currency exchange booths.

What’s it like travelling in Saudi as a female?

We think you’d be surprised! To find out more, read our first-hand account on what it’s like to travel in Saudi.

What’s the time difference in Saudi?

Saudi follows Arabia Standard Time (GMT +3) all year round.