Jeddah - Riyadh - Khobar - Madina - Tabuk - Qassim iceaksa.comice@iceww.comicearabia.com At Islam Commercial Enterprises (ICE), we take pride in delivering world-class culinary ingredients to the HoReCa and catering industries. As a trusted distributor in Saudi Arabia since pastry ingredients. Carefully selected to inspire chefs, our products help elevate every creation with exceptional Join us in our state-of-the-art professional kitchen where we offer specialized courses designed to help chefs and knowledge, and transform creativity into unforgettable gourmet masterpieces.TIMEOUTRIYADH.COM SPRING 2025 3 Inside 6 Things to do 12 Inside the green city 22 The cool drink guide 28 Eid Al Adha celebrations 32 Food 36 Sports 38 Shopping 40 The last word Features & Regulars In full bloom Saudi Arabia is renowned for its record-breaking mega-projects and Riyadh’s plan to transform into a garden city is no exception. Page 12 The vision for King Salman Park On the co ver: Illustration b y Crisel Cutinho 4 SPRING 2025 TIMEOUTRIYADH.COM Time Out Riyadh Riyadh Gallery Mall, 1st Floor, Offi ce 21, King Fahd, Riyadh, P. O Box 12262 +966 11 279 5115 www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Geneva, London, Mumbai & Riyadh ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Martin Chambers Chief Content Offi cer Holly Sands Riyadh Offi ce General Manager Elie Kassis elie.kassis@itp.com Executive Director Majed Telmesani Time Out Riyadh Editorial Head of Content McKenna Grant mckenna.grant@itp.com Editor (Arabic) Lamis Farhat lamis.farhat@itp.com Senior Writer (Arabic) Marie Hosry marie.hosry@itp.com Digital Content Lead Jeffrey Casiño jeffrey.casino@itp.com Content Executive Rodelito Mamuad rodelito.mamuad@itp.com Social Media Executives Dara Albosaili, Jodie Alsasi, Razan Baradan Events & Marketing Head of Events Eleanor Ashton eleanor.ashton@itp.com Art Senior Designer Gillian Fletcher Junior Designer Celine Iskandar-Elhachem Junior Assistant Crisel Cutinho Group Video Editor Bharat Tahiliani Production Production Manager Anand Sundaram anand.sundaram@itp.com Distribution & Circulation Head of Distribution and Newstrade Abdulrahim Alparambil abdulrahim.a@itp.com Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai rajesh.pillai@itp.com Advertising Chief Commercial Officer Sally Whittam sally.whittam@itp.com Advertising Director Niall Meegan niall.meegan@itp.com Senior Sales Manager Rayan Omran rayan.omran@itp.com Commercial Manager Tareq Abdel Wahhab tareq.abdelwahhab@itp.com Senior Commercial Admin Executive Janet Comia janet.comia@itp.com ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. Published under the authority of and in collaboration with Time Out Group Limited London UK. Printed for sale in AGCC and Egypt only. The name and logo of Time Out are used under licence of Time Out Group Limited London UK. facebook.com/timeoutriyadh youtube.com/timeoutgcc timeoutriyadh timeoutriyadh timeout_riyadh Ed’s pick Lamis Farhat Editor We have the lowdown on the city’s coolest drinks... both literally and figuratively (p22) Hello Published by ITP MEDIA SAUDI LTD © 2025 Time Out Group Ltd, London, UK. You know that friend that’s constantly on the go? They’re here, there and everywhere. A bit chaotic, but in the best possible way. Riyadh is that person in city form. With dazzling skyscrapers and world-class events on repeat, the capital has a hustle and bustle unlike anywhere else in the world. But, just like that high-energy pal, life is all about *balance*. Blending high-end with laid-back, ultra glam with casual and, importantly, the hustle with the calm. And the latter, in Riyadh’s case, is about to up its game. From King Salman Park to Sports Boulevard, green projects are redefining the way we chill. Fresh outdoor spaces (one five times larger than NYC’s Central Park, NBD) are on the horizon and we have all the deets. Grab your friends (yes, even that one) and get outside. It’s just the ticket any day of the week. TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM MONTH 2025 3 Who’s ready for a memorable lunch? SUSHISAMBA Riyadh is now open from 12.30pm every day of the week. What’s more, the glamorous Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian restaurant has launched its new Hayai Lunch. There’s no need to wait until dinner to experience the inventive combination of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian flavours at this glitzy KAFD destination. You can enjoy the Hayai Lunch menu from Sunday to Thursday from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. It’s a perfect option for a midday break or business meeting. Pick from a two-course menu for SAR170 per person or SAR195 for three courses. You’ll be able to enjoy all the signature flavours of SUSHISAMBA with a starter platter that includes wagyu gyoza, shrimp tempura and green bean tempura, followed by a choice of mains like beef anticucho or chicken a la brasa, and desserts such as mochi or sata andagi (aka Japanese doughnuts). Best of all, no matter what deal you pick you’ll be able to dine for under SAR200 per person. The set lunch menu is the perfect way to sample SUSHISAMBA’s vibrant flavours. Do you have an event? You can also book the plush private dining room, located on the mezzanine floor, for events or private business meetings. You might just find yourself staying for supper too. Lunch or dinner, it’s always the right time to have SUSHISAMBA. So, make your reservation today at the hotspot. O Open Sat-Wed 12.30pm-midnight, Thu-Fri 12.30pm-1am, KAFD, sushisamba.com. Don’t miss the new lunch at SUSHISAMBA Feast on the new Hayai Lunch menu at the KAFD restaurant Partner contentslug 6 MONTH 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM Things Dive into Saudi’s art scene at the first-ever Art Week Riyadh Art in the capital has exploded over the last few years, and it’s about to get a whole lot more innovative. Enter the first-ever Art Week Riyadh. Taking place across the city, with the main hub in the JAX District of Diriyah, vibrant exhibitions and displays from both local and international artists await, as well as talks, workshops, performances and more. O Sun Apr 6 to Sun Apr 13 4pm-midnight. JAX District, visualarts.moc.gov.sa. April Cheer on your footie team at Al Nassr vs Al Riyadh You’ll have the chance to watch Cristiano Ronaldo in action IRL (and very soon). On April 10 at Al-Awwal Park, Al Nassr FC is playing at home against Al Riyadh, so get ready to cheer your heart out. We will be. O From SAR38. Thu Apr 10 5pm. Al-Awwal Park, viagogo.com. Rave all night long at Art Flame’s third anniversary party Art Flame, the Riyadh-based music label, is celebrating its third anniversary with a party featuring Saudi headliner VinylMode. Expect to dance to high-energy electronic beats and enjoy special performances from BRQ, BassLaw, N.A.H and HAS. O From SAR200. Thu Apr 10 9pm. The Warehouse, JAX. platinumlist.net. JAX Districtslug ITC Franklin Gothic st - Heavy - 11pt TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM MONTH 2025 7 to do Take a trip round the globe at Boulevard World Whether you fancy indulging in tacos in Mexico, taking a gondola ride in Italy, exploring the Pyramids in Egypt or admiring the Eiffel Tower in France, you can do it all and then some at Boulevard World, which also boasts more than 1,000 shops and 120 restaurants and cafés. O Until Thu April 10, 4pm-1am. Boulevard World, Hittin, webook.com. Boulevard World Enjoy a night of all the LOLs with John Achkar at his stand-up show If you love a good laugh then mark April 12 in your diary. Lebanese comedian John Achkar is bringing his world tour to Riyadh for one night only. Expect plenty of his witty comedic observations, experiences and escapades at the Comedy Pod. O From SAR200, Sat Apr 12 9.30pm. Comedy Pod, Al Muruj, platinumlist.net. Explore the beauty of the desert at Dunes of Arabia If you’ve not paid a visit to Dunes of Arabia yet, this is your last chance. The popular desert activation closes its doors this month for the season. Revolving entirely around Saudi’s natural beauty, heritage and culture, expect camel riding, dune bashing, Arabian horse riding, falconry and traditional Saudi dishes. Get ready for the rich traditions of the desert (and a very fun time). O SAR15 (weekday), SAR 30 (weekend), Sun-Wed 3pm-midnight, Thu 3pm-3am, Fri 9am-3pm, Sat 9am- midnight. Until Tue Apr 15. Al Touqi, webook.com. Get your dancing shoes on for the Thousand and One music festival MDLBEAST is turning up the volume (again). Following the epic Soundstorm and Jeddah’s Balad Beast, it’s bringing the 1001 Arabian Nights Music Festival to Riyadh. Inspired by the Middle Eastern folktale One Thousand and One Nights, it boasts a can’t- miss world-class lineup of electronic artists. O From SAR249. 4pm-4am, Thu Apr 24 – Fri Apr 25, nofomo.com. Dunes of Arabiaslug 8 MONTH 2025 TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM May Rock out like a rockstar with Guns N’ Roses live in concert Perhaps the most anticipated concert of the year, rock legends Guns N’ Roses will kick off their highly awaited 2025 world tour in Riyadh this May at the iconic Kingdom Arena. This show marks the band’s Saudi debut, so you know this is one event you definitely do not want to miss. Expect to sing along to all of the newer hits, plus a never- ending list of classics, from Sweet Child O’ Mine to Welcome to the Jungle. Attendees must be at least 16 years old for this one. See you there. O From SAR38 (general admission). Fri May 23. Kingdom Arena, platinumlist.net. SAMoCA Bring on belly-bursting giggles at Nate Bargatze’s comedy tour For a night of LOLs, head to the American comedian’s Big Dumb Eyes comedy show. Hailed “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” his clean comedy makes it a show for everyone. O From SAR680. Fri May 2 8pm, Princess Noura University Theater, ticketmaster.sa. Get your creative juices flowing during a visit to Downtown Design A stalwart in Dubai for ten years, Downtown Design is headed to Riyadh. Expect global and regional design excellence across materials, furniture, lighting and textiles. Lush. O Tue May 20–Fri May 23. JAX District, downtowndesign.com/riyadh. JAX District Guns N’ Rosesslug ITC Franklin Gothic st - Heavy - 11pt TIMEOUTDUBAI.COM MONTH 2025 9 Things to do In the comments What’s got you talking on Instagram... Qasr Al Hokm Riyadh Metro station Get artsy at SAMoCA with Art of the Kingdom Culture thrives with art, and in the capital city, contemporary art takes centre stage. To celebrate, each month the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA) showcases one dynamic exhibition featuring remarkable modern artwork. Until May 24, visitors can explore the Art of the Kingdom: Poetic Illuminations, showcasing work from 17 prominent Saudi artists. And admission is completely free. A win-win. O Free. Until May 24. Mon-Thu 10am- 10pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-10pm. Sun (closed). JAX District, Diriyah, dc.moc.gov.sa @samocamoc. Got a tip? Email us for the latest hello@timeoutriyadh.com timeoutriyadh “Wow, that modern station is stunning! Sleek lines and innovative design really stand out” @ungaro2022 “Brilliant architecture” @CoolMe “So beautiful and so unique… it’s the aesthetic of 2025 ” @theo_danyelian Get ready for the action-packed Mission: Impossible flick This year is a big one for cinema, and we’re pumped for Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, which drops in May. The highly anticipated latest instalment (and we mean the hype is oh so real) will pick up from the cliffhanger ending of 2023’s Mission Impossible: The Dead Reckoning, making 2025’s movie a direct sequel to the previous film for the first time in the series’ history. Be sure to bring your mates or the whole family and make a day of it. Treat yourself to popcorn, sweet treats... the whole works at the cinema, too. You deserve it. O Prices vary. From Thu May 22. Various cinemas across Riyadh. Tom Cruise in Mission ImpossibleNext >