BY NAUREEN AHMED
Desert Designs is one of the most successful art and furniture stores in the Kingdom. Founded by Qamar Ahmed and Farid Bukhari in 1990, Desert Designs has grown from a family-run local handicraft store set up in a desert tent to a flagship storefront on King Abdullah Street in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. Their vast collection ranges from tribal Bedouin arts from the desert to modern executive giveaways and gifts that are created to keep the heritage of Islamic design alive and thriving.
Desert Designs creates one-of-a-kind products that have an intersection between Saudi patterns and contemporary style. Their store is constantly updated with unique and well-crafted items. They give importance to both the artists and artisans. It continues to provide a platform for both with their art gallery and store. They also have Cafea Arab which offers gourmet coffee and teas to round up the ultimate shopping experience. Those who cannot travel to the Eastern Province can shop in the comfort of their homes as they ship worldwide.
Their best-selling products include handmade bespoke pieces of furniture. Furniture can be customized further. They also have smaller pieces for home decorating and entertaining like trays with the Sadu pattern, antique Haili burner, heritage clocks with antique Saudi silver, hand painted cushions and boxes, Bedouin jewelry, and more. Desert Designs take inspiration in the different provinces and regions of the Kingdom. No wonder the beauty and craftsmanship of their products abound.
They believe that with Saudi Arabia’s transformation pro.cess, right now is the “make it or break it” for a lot of local businesses. “If we push through with this moment, it is only going to go up from here!” To those who are thinking of putting up their businesses, they suggest to do something new, offer services that don’t exist, fill in the gaps, and collaborate!
Desert Designs plans to make sure that Saudi design becomes mainstream, even at the international level. They are trying to make it happen. With their participation in the recent Saudi Design Week that gave them insight to new clients in Riyadh, they are surely getting there.
Desert Designs
3616 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Road,
Al Aqrabiyah, Al Khobar 34446
T: +966-505-808975 / +966-13-889-4747
Social Media: @desertdesignssa
