BY ROSITSA DOROVSKA AND REINA TEJANO-BERIÑA
Riyadh will never be the same again. Who would have imagined that a plethora of activities, exhibitions, concerts, and performances rigged almost every corner of the city as everyone experienced the first ever Riyadh Season? As its motto said: “Imagine.”
Since it kicked off back in October 2019, the calendar of Riyadh Season has been eventful and fruitful. According to the General Entertainment Authority, the number of visitors in Riyadh surpassed the five-million mark, which also included more than 100,000 tourists. This was highly attributed to the announcement of Saudi Arabia that it would start issuing tourist visas to international visitors that same month.
As proof, my own mother and sister from Bulgaria were now able to visit me personally and together, we witnessed Riyadh Season in full swing. Thanks to this new visa opportunity, other nationalities from all over the world can now also see what it’s like in Saudi Arabia.
Though the biggest reward is for the Saudi people – most especially the younger generation. Not only did they have the chance to finally experience this fun and freedom in their home country, but they were also exposed to job opportunities and newfound skills. Riyadh Season provided over 45,000 jobs locally, both permanent and part-time, for the said event.
The economic impact of these events are promising, with the Saudi Payments Network reporting that over SAR 156 million-worth of transactions were recorded. All demographics were considered in most of the events, allowing for affordable access and enjoyment. There were some events/activities that required pricey tickets, but it seemed that the eagerness to attend them weighed more for others – which is good for business.
Exploring Saudi Heritage
The Nabd Al Riyadh was the cultural centerpiece of Riyadh Season, combining an authentic Saudi heritage site – Al Masmak Fort – with high-tech augmented reality visuals. The surroundings were amassed with booths about local and traditional art, products and food. At the central hall, performances were made from international orchestras to Arabic poetry recitals and the folkloric Ardah dance.
Nights at the Museum
Al Muraba was transformed into a mysterious night garden with glowing décor and classical music playing in the background. The venue was located between the National Museum and the King’s Palace and it served visitors seeking for an elite and extravagant dining experience from international, pop-up restaurants. While these called for exclusive bookings, the National Museum offered some “soul food” for free. They hosted the contemporary art exhibition, “Bienalsur: Recovering Stories, Recovering Fantasies” which featured local and global artists.
Gastronomic Journeys
One of the best connections is always made through food. Riyadh Season was not short on bringing in hundreds of international kitchens, including chefs, to showcase their culinary work. The Taste of The World food festival brought in 14 world-class restaurants with a combined 13 Michelin stars to their name. Aside from this, the world’s most expensive restaurant, “Sublimotion” was also present in Riyadh offering its unique and science-inspired gastronomical show. Dinner in the Sky was also one of the exhilarating dining experiences from Riyadh’s Winter Wonderland with diners enjoying their meals at over 50 meters up high.
The Sound of Music
Concerts and musicals were considered as one of the main attractions of Riyadh Season with new performances almost every week. It was kicked off with a bang by the arrival of K-Pop and world-renowned superstars, BTS as they performed at King Fahad Stadium in early October. International singers such as Amr Diab, Jason Derulo, and French Montana followed suit at the Mohammad Abdo stage in the Boulevard Zone. The massive MDL Beast Festival, which featured over 100 international DJs and Arab singers boasted of more than 130,000 visitors, breaking global festival numbers. Meanwhile, Princess Noura University halls were home to classic Broadway musicals with the showing of The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”.
Enjoying Nature
The lush greenery and vast sand dunes of Nofa Safari is inspired by the wildlife of Africa. It was a vibrant and colorful scene with various activities for families and children, which included boat riding, a safari tour to visit the animals and entertaining performances of African dances. The Riyadh Sahara was also held in the outskirts of the capital, which was full of desert winter activities such as buggy rides, archery and a zip line adventure.
Wonderful Wonderland
Undoubtedly the heart of Riyadh Season, Winter Wonderland was a smash hit among the young and old. The theme park was twice the size of its original form from Hyde Park in London with numerous arcade games, thrilling rides, horror houses, and the largest ice skating rink in the Middle East. The crowds were always bustling with families and youngsters, most especially on weekends as it was melting pot of fun and festivities. It has been such a success that it has been extended to remain open until March 20th.
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The Ferris Wheel is a good view point for the Winter Wonderland grounds and Riyadh City.
