VIA Riyadh explained

VIA Riyadh
Native Name:ڤيا رياض
Native Name Lang:ar
Location:Al-Hada, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Opening Date:
(reopening)
Developer:Takamul Project Management Company
Owner:Sela Sport Company

VIA Riyadh is a mixed-use development with high-end retail, hospitality and entertainment outlets in the al-Hada district of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located next to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Built using stones extracted from the Tuwaiq mountains,[1] it was soft-opened in 2021 as one of the zones of Riyadh Season[2] [3] [4] before being officially inaugurated in 2023. It is owned by Sela Sport Company and hosts the city's first St. Regis Hotel, which was completed in 2022.

Overview

Timeline and development

In October 2021, Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia announced the unveiling of VIA Riyadh as one of the 14 zones of the 2021 edition of Riyadh Season through his official Twitter handle.[5] The construction of VIA Riyadh was in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, a comprehensive plan to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy in the non-oil sector.[6]

The overall project was overseen by the Takamul Project Management Company whereas its interior designing was contracted to SUD Architects, a French architecture company.[7] [8] In December 2021, Marriott International signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia's Sela Sport Company to build a St. Regis Hotel in Riyadh and an EDITION hotel in Jeddah by 2022.[9]

The General Entertainment Authority in a press release in October 2022 announced that that VIA Riyadh is set to inaugurate as a "permanent zone" during the 2022 edition of Riyadh Season, similar to the Boulevard Riyadh City.[10]

In late January 2023, General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Al-Sheikh conducted a private inauguration ceremony of VIA Riyadh, which was attended by the country's Minister of Tourism Ahmed al-Kateeb, chairman of the board of directors of Saudi Journalists Association Khalid al-Malik and the Japanese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Iwai Fumio.[11] [12]

A week before its official opening on 11 May 2023,[13] [14] the Riyadh Calendar released an promotional video for VIA Riyadh featuring American-Colombian actress Sofía Vergara.[15] [16] Days later, Argentine professional footballer Lionel Messi was spotted in VIA Riyadh along with his family who had arrived in the Saudi capital just hours after FC Lorient's historic win over Paris Saint-Germain.[17] [18] [19]

Design and reception

Architecture

The compound was built using stones extracted from the nearby Tuwaiq mountains on the six core principles of Salmani style, a distinct type of urban Najdi architectural method developed in Riyadh Province during the reign of Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz as the region's governor between 1963 and 2011.[20]

Brand outlets and leisure

The compound of VIA Riyadh hosts 25 shops, 17 restaurants and 7 cinemas of international and local brands, including UK'sdining outlets Gymkhana, Sexy Fish and Scott's as well as US-based Spago and Bianca.[21] Retail outlets opened exclusively in the precincts consist those of American fashion designer Brandon Maxwell and Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab besides art galleries that include Richard Orlinski, Artfeena, Phoenix Ancient Art and VIA Collection. Seven cinemas make up the entertainment sector of the compound, namely, Avant Garde, Interstellar, the Oasis, Orient Express, Secret Garden, Tuwaiq Hall and Wall Street.[22] [23] [24]

Shopping

Retail outlets!Outlet!Type!Country of origin
AesopBeauty and skin-careAustralia
AquazzuraFootwearItaly
ArtfeenaArtSaudi Arabia
AshiFashionSaudi Arabia
Belluci JewelryJewelrySaudi Arabia
Brandon MaxwellFashionUnited States
Chaps & CoSalonUnited Arab Emirates
Charles OudinWatchesFrance
CléWatchesSaudi Arabia
David WebbJewelryUnited States
Dolce & GabbanaFashion and footwearItaly
Elie SaabFashionLebanon
Fleurs De VieFlowersUnited Kingdom
Indulge in LuxuryFashion and jewelryAustralia
IsaiaFashionItaly
Brunello CucinelliFashionItaly
Maria TashJewelry United States
L'atelier NawbarJewelryLebanon
MwazFashionSaudi Arabia
Phoenix Ancient ArtArtUnited StatesSwitzerland
Richard OrlinskiArtFrance
Sergio RossiFootwearItaly
VIA Collection by SevenAutomobile gallerySaudi Arabia
Tom FordFashionUnited States
ZimmermannFashionAustralia
Jacques La CoupeSalonUnited Arab Emirates

Restaurants and cafeterias

!Restaurant!Cuisine
BiancaAmerican
café ELLEFrench and Saudi Arabian
Chi SpaccaItalian
FerdiLatin American
GymkhanaIndian
Joan's on ThirdAmerican
Les Deux MagotsFrench
Madeo RistoranteItalian
ManuH Cigar LoungeSaudi Arabian
Over UnderBritish
Raoul'sFrench
Scott'sBritish
Sexy FishJapanese
SpagoAmerican
WAGYUMAFIAJapanese
YAKINIKUMAFIAJapanese
Via MercatoMixed

Cinema

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1 February 2023 . VIA Riyadh, the Saudi capital’s latest luxury destination . 2023-05-27 . Arab News . en.
  2. Web site: Aswani . Nikita . 1 December 2021 . Riyadh Season 2021: Everything You Need to Know About Travelwings . 2023-05-27 . Travelwings.com . en-US.
  3. Web site: saudiseasons@gmail.com . 13 October 2021 . ڤيا رياض, Visit Saudi Seasons مواسم السعودية . 2023-05-27 . Visit Saudi Seasons مواسم السعودية . ar.
  4. Web site: اليوسف . الرياض: أمجاد . 10 November 2021 . فيا رياض.. رحلة فاخرة . 2023-05-27 . Watanksa . Arabic.
  5. Web site: salah . 3 October 2021 . منطقة فيا رياض ومفاجأة تركي آل الشيخ في موسم الرياض 2021/2022 – مصر مكس . 2023-05-27 . new.masrmix.com . ar.
  6. Web site: 16 May 2023 . Riyadh’s Salmani style luxurious hub ‘Via Riyadh’ finally opens . 2023-05-28 . Saudigazette . English.
  7. Web site: VIA RIYADH . 2023-05-27 . Sud Architectes . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Takamul Project Management Company . 2023-05-27 . takamul-pm.com.
  9. Web site: Marriott International Signs Agreement with Sela Sport Company to Bring Two New Luxury Hotels to Saudi Arabia . 2023-05-27 . Marriott International Newscenter (US) . en.
  10. Web site: Riyadh Season Is Preparing for Opening Via Riyadh … The Most Luxurious Zone in Riyadh Season 2022 – General Entertainment Authority . 2023-05-27 . www.gea.gov.sa.
  11. Web site: 1 February 2023 . Riyadh Season’s most prestigious zone, VIA Riyadh, unveiled in private ceremony . 2023-05-28 . Al Arabiya English . en.
  12. Web site: 1 February 2023 . GEA chief inaugurates luxurious 'VIA Riyadh' Zone . 2023-05-28 . Saudigazette . English.
  13. Web site: 1 February 2023 . Riyadh Season’s most prestigious zone, VIA Riyadh, unveiled in private ceremony . 2023-05-28 . Al Arabiya English . en.
  14. Web site: 21 May 2023 . Riyadh’s Salmani style luxurious hub ‘Via Riyadh’ finally opens. . 2023-05-28 . NewsWire . en-US.
  15. Web site: Staff Writer . Gazette . Saudi . Via Riyadh set to open to public on May 11 . 2023-05-27 . www.zawya.com . en.
  16. Web site: 1 May 2023 . Opening date announced for luxury shopping and entertainment district Via Riyadh . 2023-05-27 . Al Arabiya English . en.
  17. Web site: Authority . Saudi Tourism . MESSI'S RIYADH TRIP UNCOVERS THE FAMILY SIDE OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXCITING NEW DESTINATION . 2023-05-27 . www.prnewswire.com . en.
  18. Web site: 3 May 2023 . Football star Messi visits UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah, explores Boulevard Riyadh City . 2023-05-27 . Arab News . en.
  19. Web site: Nihal . Mariam . 3 May 2023 . What to know about Via Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's new hub promoted by Messi and Sofia Vergara . 2023-05-27 . The National . en.
  20. Web site: 21 May 2023 . Riyadh’s Salmani style luxurious hub ‘Via Riyadh’ finally opens. . 2023-05-28 . NewsWire . en-US.
  21. Web site: Editor . Kohinoor Sahota-Deputy . 11 May 2023 . The definitive guide to Via Riyadh's restaurants, shops, cinema and hotel . 2023-05-28 . Fact Magazine . en-US.
  22. Web site: 1 February 2023 . Riyadh Season’s most prestigious zone, VIA Riyadh, unveiled in private ceremony . 2023-05-27 . Al Arabiya English . en.
  23. Web site: Discover VIA Riyadh: All The Must-Visit Stores At The New Luxury Hub . 2023-05-28 . Grazia Middle East . en-US.
  24. Web site: Holtham . Alice . 11 May 2023 . Now open: Your ultimate guide to Via Riyadh . 2023-05-28 . Whats On Saudi Arabia . en-GB.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "VIA Riyadh".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.