12 amazing things to do in Riyadh this weekend: May 2 to May 4
Hello, weekend…
Get ready to strap in for another busy weekend with plenty of unmissable events and experiences around the capital. Here is our shortlist of 12 amazing things to do in Riyadh this weekend.
Thursday May 2
Check out the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024
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Now in its second edition, the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale has become a distinctive event in the region’s art calendar. The 2024 edition titled ‘After Rain’ opens up a moment of revitalisation and renewal. Visiting the Diriyah Biennale 2024 will take audiences across six airy exhibition halls in the JAX District. This year, the 177 works on show by artists from all over the world address pressing topics, such as water shortage, arid landscapes, and climate migration. In addition, there are many learning sessions and activations, including kids’ workshops and the much-loved Cinema Nights, taking place during the Diriyah Biennale 2024. Here are some highlights from our visit.
Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2024, until May 24, JAX District, Diriyah, Riyadh, Sat to Thurs 11am to 11pm & Fri 3pm to midnight. Free entry but you need to book your ticket here. @biennale_sa
Tee off at the American Express AmCham 28th Annual Golf Tournament
American Express AmCham Annual Golf Tournament takes place at Riyadh Golf Club on Thursday May 2 and Friday May 3. Exclusively sponsored by American Express Saudi Arabia and held in collaboration with AmCham Saudi Arabia, the golfing event is celebrating its 28th anniversary this year. All the best to all the golfers who have already registered. A cherished tradition, this tournament is not just about showcasing your golf prowess, it’s also an opportunity to connect with fellow members of the community.
American Express AmCham 28th Annual Golf Tournament, May 2 & 3, Riyadh Golf Club. More information can be found here.
Take the kids on a classical music adventure
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You can never be too young to start appreciating good music – so Le Concert Impromptu is here to provide you and your little loved ones with a unique, fun-filled introduction to live classical music perfect for children. The quintet will perform an hour-long concert on the theme of tales and animals, narrated by wind instruments, for children aged four and above and their parents. Who knows you could be looking at the next Mozart in the family… so, get your tickets now.
French Concert for Children, May 2, 7pm to 8pm, Saudi Music Hub Riyadh. Suitable for children four years and above. SAR95 per person (including children). Get your tickets here. @alliancefrancaise_ksa
Jump around in excitement with DJ Massano
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Created by music lovers for music lovers, join YellowPlus as it presents the incredible DJ Massano/Afterlife live for the first time in the Kingdom. What better way to spend your weekend than to let your hair down and party hard?
YellowPlus, May 2, 7pm onwards, Saudi Media City, Shamas, Al Qirawan, Riyadh 13545. Tickets start at SAR375 and can be purchased here. @yellowplus_sa
Pull through with your friends at this Melotech party
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Get ready for a new experience in Riyadh with this innovative concept, ‘Melotech Presents: XTENDED Series’ – where music knows no bounds. The one and only Amine K will headline the show with an exclusive extended three-hour set, alongside Alaa Gazari and HAFFS. Look forward to an exceptional fusion of music and ambience and an electrifying atmosphere.
Melotech Presents Amine K, May 2, 8pm onwards, The Warehouse, JAX District. Tickets start from SAR350 and can be purchased here. @twh_ksa
Friday May 3
Have breakfast at Jon & Vinny’s
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A favourite in its California outlets, breakfast at Jon & Vinny’s Riyadh will be an indulgent affair, with the menu featuring Jon & Vinny’s classics like Breakfast Pizza 2.0 – loaded with potato, egg, and red onion – and fluffy American pancakes stacked to the ceiling. And in true Italian style, there’s plenty of coffee, from the classic Americano, cappuccino, cortado, and latte to the signature vanilla bean latte.
Jon & Vinny’s Riyadh, daily 8am to midnight, The Elite, Al Dabbab Street, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12234. Tel: 9200 18212. @jonandvinnys.ksa
Enjoy a blissful spa getaway with your partner
Looking for a spa to slip into with your significant other to calm the mind and rejuvenate the body? Book yourselves into The St. Regis Riyadh Spa’s VIP Spa Suite. It offers a tranquil and blissfully private treatment experience for two. A thoroughly bespoke experience, your appointed therapist guides you through the menu of available treatments, allowing you and your significant other to pick and choose what feels right for you on the day. The VIP Spa Suite also features side-by-side treatment beds, a relaxation space, and a hydro massage tub – perfect for a whole day stay.
The St. Regis Riyadh Spa, daily 10am to 10pm, The St Regis Riyadh. Tel: 011 508 8333. The spa treatment starts from SAR720 for a 60-minute Performance Massage. @stregisriyadh
Experience the enchanting ballet performance of Swan Lake
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Dance lovers, get ready to be thrilled. In this two-act performance of Swan Lake, the illustrious Moscow Ballet ‘La Classique,’ with their ballet skills, lavish costumes, and magnificent stage sets, will capture the imagination, passion, and romance of this classical ballet fairytale.
Swan Lake in Riyadh, May 3, 3pm & 8pm, Al Ahmar Theatre, Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University, Gate 4. Book your tickets here. SAR600 for Platinum, SAR680 for Diamond & SAR1,000 for Royal.
Here’s your last chance to visit Boulevard World
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The fan-favourite Riyadh Season zone, Boulevard World, is set to close its doors after months of fantastic family fun. Complete with 15 sub-zones, each sub-zone is dedicated to a different country from across the globe, celebrating the best of that destination’s shopping, culinary and cultural experiences. And it’s all set out around the largest man-made lake in the world, which visitors can enjoy with gondolas, cars and even floating submarine rides.
Boulevard World, until May 3, 4pm to 2am, Hittin, Riyadh. Ticket entry starts from SAR109 and can be purchased here. Admission to Boulevard World does not include the following experiences: The Wheel, Super Fly, CocoMelon, Playocity, BLVD Lagoon Rides, skill games and all experiences. @blvdworldsa
Saturday May 4
Brunching… the ROKA way
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ROKA is one of the city’s most perennially popular hotspots for Japanese food. Its new semi-buffet brunch concept features 16 of the restaurant’s irresistible signature dishes and live stations. Expect a variety of bites, including yakisoba noodles, variations of gyozas, sushi, sashimi and skewers, hearty robata favourites for mains, as well as a dessert platter to finish. All of this is accompanied by a fantastic live DJ on the decks and a totally fun vibe, which ROKA is renowned for.
ROKA Riyadh Saturday Brunch, 1am to 5pm, 5140 Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Rd, As Sulimaniyah, Riyadh 12243 7053. SAR295 per person & SAR95 for children aged six to 12. Tel: 9200 12327. @rokarestaurant.ksa
The globally loved Candlelight Concert is back
The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh will be awash with hundreds of flameless candles as a Candlelight tribute to Ludovico Einaudi comes to town. You’ll hear 65 minutes of classical Einaudi masterpieces, from ‘Primavera’ and ‘Gravity’ to ‘Golden Butterflies’, ‘Fly’, and ‘Ascent’, with talented pianist Magda Wajdzik tinkling the ivories during the concert. Pretty magical sounding, huh?
Candlelight: Tribute to Ludovico Einaudi, May 4, 6.30pm & 8.30pm, The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh. Tickets are priced at SAR375 for Zone A, SAR325 for Zone B & SAR275 for Zone C, and they can be purchased here. For eight years and above, and those below 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
You can still catch Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Arabic Grand Opera
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Love opera? Saturday May 4 is the last day for you to catch the first grand opera to be produced by Saudi Arabia and the world’s largest grand opera to be sung in Arabic. Based on an ancient tale from pre-Islamic Arabia, Zarqa Al Yamama tells the story of a legendary blue-eyed woman, born of the Geddes tribe and blessed with the gift of foresight. The opera promises to take audiences on a compelling journey through its fusion of orchestral and choral music, intricate storytelling, and captivating vocal performances.
Zarqa Al Yamama, until May 4, 8.30pm, King Fahad Cultural Centre, Riyadh. The price for the tickets starts from SAR100 and can be purchased here. @performarts_moc