What to do in Riyadh - Latest News

If you’ve been thinking about trying something creative this month, Diriyah has a full line-up worth checking out. Throughout April 2026, Diriyah Art Futures (DAF) is hosting a series of workshops as part of the ongoing exhibition Of the Earth: Earthly Technologies to Computational Biologies. Whether you’re drawn to nature, curious about tech, or interested in cultural exploration, there’s a workshop here that will match your interests. Nature-based workshops for Teens Musical Fruits This session mixes nature, sound, and simple tech. Participants use fruits, vegetables, and plants to build basic musical instruments and explore how organic materials generate sound through...

A week of films, conversations, and industry meetups is coming back to Dhahran at the end of April. Saudi Film Festival returns for its 12th edition. The event will take place from April 23 to 29 at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). This year’s theme, “The Journey,” shapes a programme of feature films, short films, and documentaries from Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf. Tickets for screenings start from SAR 75. The international focus this year is on Korean cinema. Screenings will be paired with discussions featuring Korean filmmakers, along with a cultural seminar and an advanced...

If you’ve ever wanted to stay somewhere celebrities choose when they travel, Faena is likely already on your radar. The brand is now expanding to Saudi Arabia with a new property set to open in Wadi Safar, just outside Riyadh. Faena Wadi Safar will be located in Diriyah, surrounded by desert landscape, palm trees, and open views across the wadi. The hotel will include 130 rooms, with some overlooking the Royal Equestrian & Polo Club and others facing a 27-hole championship golf course. Plans for this project also include 20 private villas positioned along the golf course, a spa, and...

If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to hop into a car with no driver and just… go, Riyadh is making that part of everyday life. The city has introduced its first route dedicated to self-driving cars. Back in May 2025, the plans for self-driving cars in KSA were introduced. Now, residents can actually see how that idea is being put into action. New route runs between Hayat Mall and Riyadh Gallery Mall. The service operates daily and is closely monitored by authorities, both from a technical and regulatory side. Smart tech is doing all the work. The...

A day at the zoo is back on the list. Riyadh Zoo has reopened after maintenance, and you can once again explore its animal zones and get close to wildlife. If you’re planning a visit, here’s everything you need to know about 2026 timings, zones, and the animals you can see there. Opening hours of Riyadh Zoo in 2026 Monday to Saturday: 8:30 AM until sunset Friday: 1 PM until sunset Sunday: Closed Gates close at 4:30 PM What's Inside Riyadh Zoo You’ll move through different themed areas, each with its own animals and experiences: Go to Almalaz Bay where...

If you enjoy trying new beauty products and discovering brands before they turn into social media trends, Beautyworld Riyadh 2026 will you plenty to explore. On May 18-20, the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre will turn into a full-on beauty expo, bringing together skincare, cosmetics, hair tools, fragrances, and everyday essentials. The event is rightfully called the biggest beauty expo in the country. This year, get ready to discover more than 400 exhibitors from over 40 countries. You’ll see well-known brands, but also smaller ones and new launches. It’s a good place to compare, try things out, and see...

If you’re looking for a free event in Riyadh that actually feels worth your time, Traditional Arts Festival is one to check out. It brings together different sides of Saudi culture, and you can visit until April 8. Here, you’ll find live performances, workshops, and exhibitions, so you can watch, join in, or do a bit of both. One of the parts people tend to gather around is the Nabati poetry evenings. These are live, interactive sessions where poets respond to each other on the spot. If you’d rather get involved, the workshops are a good place to start. They...

If you’re looking for a new place to try, B+F Riyadh is worth keeping in mind. This burger boutique is getting ready to open at Laysen Valley and it'll bring something different from the usual spots. The vibe is warm, slightly rustic, and built around live fire, so you can actually see part of the cooking as it happens. The concept comes from Kuwait and centres around cooking over charcoal. You'll notice the difference after the first bite. The food picks up a deeper, slightly smoky flavour, which gives familiar dishes a bit more character. View this post on Instagram...

Riyadh is set for a night that feels a little more personal than your usual concert. On April 2, Couplet Sessions takes over Abu Bakr Salem Theater (Cultural Palace), turning the evening into a shared experience between artist and audience, where the playlist isn’t fixed and the crowd plays a big part in what happens next. This interactive music night is built around a simple idea: you don’t just sit and listen but take part. The audience can request songs, sing along, and shape the atmosphere. To give you a better idea of the kind of songs you might hear,...

Have you been using Instagram's end-to-end encrypted messaging feature? Well, it’s time to say goodbye. Meta recently announced that it will no longer support this feature starting May 8, 2026. End-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and receiver can read the content of their messages. So, when this was enabled on Instagram, Meta couldn’t access your conversations. According to Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby Luce, the feature didn’t get enough use, that's why it's being removed. Starting May 8, Instagram will return to its standard encryption model, where the platform can access data if needed. Before this date, Meta will...