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The iftars you still need to try in Riyadh 

The iftars you still need to try in Riyadh 
Fairmont Riyadh. (Supplied)
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Updated 05 April 2024
Arab News
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The iftars you still need to try in Riyadh 

The iftars you still need to try in Riyadh 
  • As Ramadan nears its end, here are our recommendations for the best iftars in the Saudi capital 
Updated 05 April 2024
Arab News
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RIYADH: The influx of restaurants opening in Riyadh in recent years has transformed the city’s iftar scene, offering a huge array of options for breaking the fast each evening. And with just a few days left in the holy month, it’s the perfect time to explore some of the Saudi capital’s best food venues. 

Whether you're in the mood for a traditional Saudi feast, a gourmet international spread, or a fusion of contemporary flavours, Riyadh’s vibrant dining landscape has something for everyone. 

Carbone 

This trendy Italian restaurant brought a slice of New York’s dining scene to Saudi Arabia when it opened in the Mansard Riyadh last October following its rise to fame in the Big Apple. The original US branch of Carbone boasts an impressive celebrity clientele, with stars including Adele, Justin Bieber and Rihanna often spotted enjoying intimate dinners at its secluded tables. For iftar, the Riyadh restaurant’s set menu offers traditional Arabic coffee and desserts alongside contemporary Italian dishes such as chicken Massimo, funghi trifolati, spicy rigatoni and tortellini al ragu. While you might not spot quite as many A-list celebrities as you would in NYC, the top-notch staff are renowned for making you feel like a star yourself. 

PRICE: From SAR400 ($107) 

LOCATION: Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road  

CONTACT: +966 11 829 0919 

Fairmont Riyadh 

This five-star hotel near King Khalid International Airport is lighting up its Al-Thuraya and Al-Marasem ballrooms for Ramadan as part of the “Luminous Nights” series (inspired by “the desert’s golden tones”) in collaboration with Saudi immersive events expert Dr. Ali Madkhaly. The foyer has been transformed into a Ramadan bazaar featuring local haute couture, signature scents, specialty coffee roasters and traditional weaving. In addition to a buffet across the two ballrooms, and for an extra fee, up to 50 guests per night can enjoy a menu created by the chef Luigi Taglienti who runs the Michelin-starred LUME in Milan. Dishes on Taglienti’s menu include langoustine, white risotto, lobster, sea bass and lamb carpaccio.  

PRICE: From SAR350 

LOCATION: Business Gate, Qurtubah 

CONTACT: +966 11 826 2629 

Four Seasons Hotel  

Step into the newly redesigned Ramadan Tent at the Four Seasons hotel in Riyadh’s iconic Kingdom Center for an iftar inspired by Arabian elegance, in a space featuring gold accents and traditional motifs. The buffet is spread across seven islands and live cooking stations, with signature mixed grills from the Josper charcoal oven served alongside poke sushi cups and artisanal sourdough pizza. For dessert, take your pick from a selection including ever-popular kunafa, creamy gelato, and a chocolate fountain. For an added touch of luxury, book the exclusive Chef's Table experience, complete with dedicated butler service and personalized dishes. The hotel also welcomes families; there is a special area for children, ensuring an enjoyable Ramadan experience for guests of all ages. 

PRICE: From SAR285 

LOCATION: Kingdom Center 

CONTACT: +966 11 211 5000 

Il Baretto 

One of the first spots to open in the glitzy King Abdullah Financial District back in 2021, Il Baretto has become a mainstay of Riyadh’s fine-dining scene, with its elegant corniced dining room fully booked most evenings. For iftar, the restaurant is serving a special “Luna del Ramadan” set menu that pairs local favourites like mango laban mocktails with Italian classics including Caprese salad and spicy penne all’arrabbiata. For each of the first four courses, diners can select between an Arabic or Italian option, before a round of mini ice cream cones for dessert. For those looking to bring home their own slice of the Il Baretto experience, takeaway tiramisus are available from 5.30 p.m. each day until the end of Ramadan. 

PRICE: SAR184  

LOCATION: King Abdullah Financial District 

CONTACT: +966 9200 12508 

Mandarin Oriental Al-Faisaliah 

Set in a grand iftar tent that can host up to 1,800 guests, the “Fawanees Experience” serves up a lavish feast of classic Saudi cuisine alongside sweet Ramadan beverages like jellab, kamer el-dine, and tamer hindy. There is also a dedicated play area for children, with those under the age of seven dining for free. For an a la carte iftar with a view, take the elevator to Asir Lounge at The Globe — the golden orb at the top of Al-Faisaliah — which offers panoramic vistas of the city’s twinkling skyscrapers. Groups can book out a private space in the restaurant for up to 25 guests for SAR35,000. 

PRICE: From SAR550  

LOCATION: King Fahd Road, Al-Olaya  

CONTACT: +966 11 273 2000 

The Ritz-Carlton 

Beneath the dazzling chandeliers and ornate ceilings of one of the city’s most famous hotels, the iftar experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh never disappoints. Guests can choose from the grand ballroom or a more intimate setting beside the former palace’s indoor pool for a wide-ranging buffet selection drawing inspiration from across the Middle East and Asia. For a final indulgent flourish, finish the evening at the Palais des Délices patisserie, where homemade pastries, oriental sweets, premium coffee, tea selections and signature beverages inspired by local ingredients are served on a terrace that overlooks the hotel’s fountains and gardens. 

PRICE: From SAR630 

LOCATION: Makkah Al-Mukarramah Road, Al Hada 

CONTACT: +966 11 802 8020

Topics: Riyadh Ramadan

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Marrakech for sixth edition

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Marrakech for sixth edition
Updated 01 February 2025
Rebecca Anne Proctor
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1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Marrakech for sixth edition

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to Marrakech for sixth edition
  • 30 exhibitors include galleries from Africa, Europe, India and for the first time, the Gulf
Updated 01 February 2025
Rebecca Anne Proctor

MARRAKECH: The sixth edition of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has returned to the opulent La Mamounia Hotel bringing together collectors and art aficionados from across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

The smallest of the 1-54 fairs — which are also held in London and New York — the Marrakech edition, which opened on Jan. 30, presents a more intimate, upscale experience.

There is a great focus on establishing connections between the Marrakech art scene and greater Africa and its diaspora, the Middle East and Europe.

1-54 Marrakech 2025. (Courtesy Mohamed Lakhda)

Running until Feb. 2, the event is being held at both the La Mamounia Hotel and multidisciplinary art space DaDa, located within the famous bustling Jemaa El-Fnaa square and marketplace in the city’s Medina quarter.

The latter highlights predominantly art concepts from across Morocco whereas within the lavish halls of La Mamounia, both international and Moroccan galleries present works by local African and international artists.

“In this edition, there is a very good balance between African, international and local Moroccan galleries,” fair director and founder Touria El Glaoui, the daughter of the late celebrated Moroccan modernist painter Hassan El Glaoui, told Arab News.

1-54 Marrakech 2025. (Courtesy Mohamed Lakhda)

“This year presents 14 galleries from Africa … in addition to a gallery from Kuwait City, Tokyo, two galleries from Milan, and the Kalhath Foundation from Mumbai, India, presenting Moroccan artist Amina Benbouchta.”

Newcomers this year include Milan-based C+N Gallery CANEPANERI; space Un from Tokyo, Japan; and GALERIE FARAH FAKHRI from Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Also represented for the first time will be Galerie Medina from Bamako, Mali; Hunna Art from Kuwait City, Kuwait; Le Violon Bleu Gallery from Sidi Bou Said in Tunis, Tunisia; and Rabat-based Abla Ababou Galerie.

1-54 Marrakech 2025. (Courtesy Mohamed Lakhda)

On view at Le Violon Bleu from Tunisia are also paintings by Hassan El Glaoui. The display marks the first time the artist’s works are exhibited at the fair. 

The Gulf is represented this year through the debuting Hunna Art from Kuwait City.

In addition, a talk, titled “AlUla a New Laboratory for Contemporary Art,” will be delivered by French curator Arnaud Morand who has staged exhibitions and residencies for several years in the ancient Saudi Arabia desert region.

1-54 Marrakech 2025. (Courtesy Mohamed Lakhda)

Also from the Gulf will be a special performance titled “Le Miroir (Acte I)” by renowned artist Miles Greenberg, to be staged at the historic El-Badi Palace, commissioned by ICD Brookfield Place Arts Program in Dubai.

Since its launch in Morocco in 2018, 1-54 has grown into a global event bringing collectors, major art institutions and artists from across the world to Morocco.

The fair, as El Glaoui noted, is also building on Marrakech’s rich cultural and art scene which has been expanding over the years. Of note this year is the reopening of the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al-Maaden alongside numerous exhibitions and museum shows and performances.

“Marrakech has a strategic geographic location serving as a meeting point for audiences from the Middle East, Africa and the rest of the world,” said El Glaoui.

“Morocco has a vibrant art scene that has significantly grown over the years. I think between its auction houses, museums, private foundations and the various galleries we have in each city, it has become an important international contender for modern and contemporary art.”

Topics: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair Marrakech

Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival

Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival
Updated 31 January 2025
Hams Saleh
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Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival

Nadhim Zahawi reflects on his journey from Baghdad to Britain at Dubai literature festival
  • Zahawi, who is a chemical engineer by background, recounted to the audience how he fled Iraq for the UK at the age of 11
  • Zahawi’s father fled to the UK first, and a few months later, Zahawi, his mother and sister joined him there, seeking refuge
Updated 31 January 2025
Hams Saleh

DUBAI: Iraqi-born British former politician Nadhim Zahawi took the stage on Friday for a conversation moderated by Faisal J. Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, during the 17th Emirates Airline Festival of Literature at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City.
The talk, “Nadhim Zahawi: The Boy From Baghdad,” shared its name with his book, in which Zahawi reflected on his journey from Baghdad to Britain, his career in business and politics, and the challenges of identity and belonging.
Zahawi, who is a chemical engineer by background, recounted to the audience how he fled Iraq for the UK at the age of 11, after his family was forced to escape their home under threat from Saddam Hussein’s regime.
He said: “At that age, you remember quite vividly, especially traumatic events … I really remember, one Sunday lunch at my aunt’s home, whose husband broke the news to my father that they’re going to come and get him tomorrow morning. Literally all he had was hours to get out of the country.”
“He packed a small bag, he wrote on the wall in our home: ‘My name is Hareth Al-Zahawi’ and a verse from the Qur’an, and that one day he will come back and see his home,” he recalled.
“We went to the airport with him; myself, my older sister and my mother. I remember vividly, the Baghdad International Airport … had a viewing platform, where in the late ’70s you would see the aircraft. There weren’t these sophisticated arms that come out. You had to walk to the plane and they put the steps up. We watched him go up the steps and we had to sort of pretend to say goodbye as if he was going on holiday because you don’t know who is watching you at the airport.”


Just before the flight took off, Zahawi recalled, an army truck sped up to the plane, and he and his family feared that his father would be taken off the flight and arrested. However, the soldiers escorted someone else instead. Zahawi later learned from his father that the person removed was seated directly in front of him.
Zahawi’s father fled to the UK first, and a few months later, Zahawi, his mother and sister joined him there, seeking refuge. He shared how these formative experiences shaped his perspective and ambitions.
He then spoke about how refugees are not necessarily a burden on society and why he refuses to call himself a political refugee.
“I sometimes feel uncomfortable when I am introduced as a refugee to the United Kingdom. What I try to say is that we are actually first-generation immigrants to the UK,” he said.
He added that this label makes him feel like an “imposter” because most people’s vision or stereotype of a refugee is someone who may have come from a less privileged background than he did.
Transitioning to his professional journey, Zahawi discussed his ventures in international business. He also provided insights into his political career, shedding light on the policies and individuals that have significantly impacted the UK’s landscape.
Zahawi said that he got into politics by accident, as he had almost no political interest growing up. “I wanted to become a show jumper,” he said, recalling how he once tried to convince his father to invest in a riding school. His father dismissed the idea, telling him, “Well, you go into university, make your own money, and then you can go to a riding school.”
It was not until his first week at University College London that an unexpected encounter shifted his perspective. At the Freshers’ Fair, he was confronted by a Socialist Workers Party member handing out magazines. “I promise you that all I did was politely say, ‘No, thank you’ — not because I didn’t respect socialism, but because I wasn’t interested in politics … He was so aggressive, saying, ‘People of your color, you should be ashamed of yourself.’”
Instead of reacting with anger, Zahawi decided to explore his viewpoint.
“I remember in 1979 or 1980, my mother saying to me: ‘Son, a grocer’s daughter has just become prime minister. You can do anything in this country.’ And she was right,” he added.
Throughout the talk, themes of identity and belonging were prominent, as Zahawi reflected on navigating life between two cultures and the evolution of his adoptive homeland, Britain.
He praised the UK’s political system for offering opportunities regardless of background, contrasting it with the US.
“I can’t name any other country that has got to this level of achievement. In America, politicians will choose particular districts where they have a large ethnic group that may be beneficial to their background,” he said.
Zahawi highlighted his own experience as an example, recalling how he was selected as a Conservative candidate despite coming from an immigrant background. “I was selected in Stratford-on-Avon in a room full of Conservative members, pretty much white. The seat is 97 percent white, affluent middle-class, farming community. This is the birth and resting place of William Shakespeare, yet they selected Nadhim Zahawi, a boy from Baghdad, as their champion, their candidate.”
He emphasized how his political success reflected the country’s openness to diversity. “They voted him in the 2010 election, and then voted him back four times after that with increased majorities. That is a country that, in my view, is truly colorblind,” Zahawi said.
He also discussed identity: “I think in many ways I am a proud Brit of Kurdish background. I am very proud of my Kurdish roots. But, ultimately, the country that has defined my life, that has given me my opportunity in life, is the United Kingdom,” he said.

Topics: Nadhim Zahawi Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

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Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week

Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week
Updated 31 January 2025
Arab News
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Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week

Saudi-helmed Ashi Studio unveils sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery at Paris Haute Couture Week
  • Couturier’s designs been worn by Queen Rania of Jordan, Beyonce
  • First designer from region to join Federation de la Haute Couture
Updated 31 January 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Paris-based label Ashi Studio, founded by Saudi Arabia designer Mohammed Ashi, presented its Spring/Summer 2025 couture collection on Thursday during Paris Haute Couture Week, featuring sculptural silhouettes, intricate embroidery, and detailed craftsmanship.

The collection has a range of designs that incorporate voluminous structures, textural contrasts and embellishments.

Look 14. (Instagram)

Several looks emphasize architectural shapes, including a voluminous ivory skirt paired with an embroidered cropped jacket in shades of blue, adorned with floral beading and gold detailing.

Other designs include structured corseted gowns with sheer lace panels and sculpted sleeves.

Look 13. (Instagram)

The collection also features darker tones, with black and gold embroidery on form-fitting dresses. Strapless gowns include intricate hand embroidery with landscape motifs.

Metallic fringe elements and shimmering embellishments contribute to the textural variation within the lineup.

Look 9. (Instagram)

Alongside heavily adorned pieces, the collection includes streamlined silhouettes, such as a deep burgundy velvet strapless gown and a turquoise column dress with matching gloves.

Ashi became the first couturier from the region to join the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris as a guest member in 2023.

The couturier’s designs have been worn by celebrities including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Penelope Cruz, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, and Queen Rania of Jordan.

Topics: Ashi Studio Paris Haute Couture Week

Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to take part in California’s 2025 Desert X

Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to take part in California’s 2025 Desert X
Updated 31 January 2025
Arab News
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Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to take part in California’s 2025 Desert X

Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to take part in California’s 2025 Desert X
Updated 31 January 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Saudi artist Muhannad Shono has been selected to take part in the fifth edition of Desert X, the international site-specific art exhibition which will take place across California’s Coachella Valley from March 8 to May 11.

Produced by non-profit organization The Desert Biennial, the event will feature artistic talent from across Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.

Shono’s work, “What Remains,” explores the ever-changing nature of identity and land. (Supplied)

Curated by artistic director Neville Wakefield and co-curator Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, the 2025 iteration will feature themes of temporality and nonlinear narratives of desert time.

Shono’s work, “What Remains,” explores the ever-changing nature of identity and land. The piece features long strips of fabric infused with native sand, allowing them to move freely with the wind. As the wind shifts, the fabric twists and reshapes while the sand forms dunes.

Muhannad Shono, "On this Sacred Day." (Supplied)

“The land of Desert X is no longer the mythical and endless expanses of the American West but has come to include the effects of our ever-growing human presence,” said Wakefield.

“Artists continue to be inspired by the idea of unadulterated nature but … they have also come to recognize that this is an idea and that the realities of the world we live in now are both more complex and contested. Time, light and space permeate every aspect of this work but so too does an urgency to find new sustainable approaches to living in an increasingly imperiled world.”

Desert X, California. (Supplied)

The full list of participating artists is as follows: Sanford Biggers, Los Angeles, California; Jose Davila, Guadalajara, Mexico; Agnes Denes, Budapest, Hungary; Cannupa Hanska Luger, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Lakota, b. Standing Rock Reservation, North Dakota, based in Glorieta, New Mexico; Raphael Hefti, Neuchatel, Switzerland; Kimsooja, Daegu, Korea; Kapwani Kiwanga, Hamilton, Canada; Sarah Meyohas, New York; Ronald Rael, Conejos Country, US; Alison Saar, Los Angeles, California; Muhannad Shono, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Topics: Muhannad Shono Desert X

Huda Kattan launches ‘Huda Hotline’ — a podcast for honest talking 

Huda Kattan launches ‘Huda Hotline’ — a podcast for honest talking 
Updated 31 January 2025
Hams Saleh
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Huda Kattan launches ‘Huda Hotline’ — a podcast for honest talking 

Huda Kattan launches ‘Huda Hotline’ — a podcast for honest talking 
Updated 31 January 2025
Hams Saleh

DUBAI: Huda Kattan, the mogul behind Huda Beauty, is breaking new ground with the launch of her “Huda Hotline” podcast.

Launched on Jan. 30, the podcast marks her first major project outside her beauty empire, offering a space for candid discussions about self-worth, beauty standards and personal growth.

Speaking about her motivation, Kattan told Arab News: “I wanted to do this for so long, it’s been a dream of mine for so many years, because I just had so many people from my community asking me to do a podcast, telling me they wanted to see a place where I could share some of my experiences.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Huda (@huda)

She added that her community has always been deeply connected by a shared passion for development and hard work, something she has learned from statistics and surveys conducted on her META platforms. They revealed a significant percentage of her followers are women striving to start their own businesses.

With “Huda Hotline,” Kattan said she was aiming to give back by being more vulnerable and open about her journey.

“I also have realized that my vulnerability and accepting that I don’t know the answers is something that people also have appreciated from me,” she said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Huda Hotline (@hudahotline)

Initial episodes will explore topics such as entrepreneurship, overcoming fear and redefining traditional beauty standards.

Kattan also talked about the impact her beauty brand has had on diversifying the industry. She said: “I definitely think we were a big part of leading this conversation, and it was difficult at first. It was very, very difficult to be based in the Middle East and trying to break through to the US, break through Europe, and that was extremely, extremely challenging.”

As for the podcast’s future, Kattan envisions she will eventually bring in guests.

“I definitely think there may be some people, but not right away,” she said. She said she was interested in featuring experts in health, self-improvement and biohacking, giving her audience a glimpse into her personal passions beyond beauty.

“I’m so ready for this,” she added. 

Topics: Huda Kattan Huda Hotline

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