VIA Riyadh

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VIA Riyadh
ڤيا رياض
VIA Riyadh, 2023
Map
LocationAl-Hada, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates24°40′3.2592″N 46°37′36.8904″E / 24.667572000°N 46.626914000°E / 24.667572000; 46.626914000
Opening date2 October 2021; 2 years ago (2 October 2021)
11 May 2023; 11 months ago (11 May 2023) (reopening)
DeveloperTakamul Project Management Company
OwnerSela Sport Company
Websitewww.viariyadh.com

VIA Riyadh (Arabic: ڤيا رياض) 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 first unveiled in 2021 as one of the temporary zones of Riyadh Season[2][3][4] before being inaugurated as a perennial commercial complex in 2023. It is owned by Sela Sport Company and hosts the city's first St. Regis Hotel, which was completed in 2022.

Overview[edit]

Timeline and development[edit]

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][6] 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.[7]

The overall project was overseen by the Takamul Project Management Company whereas its interior designing was contracted to SUD Architects, a French architecture company.[8][9] 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.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12][13]

A week before its official opening on 11 May 2023,[14][15] the Riyadh Calendar released an promotional video for VIA Riyadh featuring American-Colombian actress Sofía Vergara.[16][17] 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.[18][19][20]

Design and reception[edit]

Architecture[edit]

VIA Riyadh entrance, 2023

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.[21]

Brand outlets and leisure[edit]

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.[22] 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.[23][24][25]

Shopping[edit]

Retail outlets
Outlet Type Country of origin
Aesop Beauty and skin-care Australia
Aquazzura Footwear Italy
Artfeena Art Saudi Arabia
Ashi Fashion Saudi Arabia
Belluci Jewelry Jewelry Saudi Arabia
Brandon Maxwell Fashion United States
Chaps & Co Salon United Arab Emirates
Charles Oudin Watches France
Clé Watches Saudi Arabia
David Webb Jewelry United States
Dolce & Gabbana Fashion and footwear Italy
Elie Saab Fashion Lebanon
Fleurs De Vie Flowers United Kingdom
Indulge in Luxury Fashion and jewelry Australia
Isaia Fashion Italy
Brunello Cucinelli Fashion Italy
Maria Tash Jewelry United States
L'atelier Nawbar Jewelry Lebanon
Mwaz Fashion Saudi Arabia
Phoenix Ancient Art Art United StatesSwitzerland
Richard Orlinski Art France
Sergio Rossi Footwear Italy
VIA Collection by Seven Automobile gallery Saudi Arabia
Tom Ford Fashion United States
Zimmermann Fashion Australia
Jacques La Coupe Salon United Arab Emirates

Restaurants and cafeterias[edit]

Restaurant Cuisine
Bianca American
café ELLE French and Saudi Arabian
Chi Spacca Italian
Ferdi Latin American
Gymkhana Indian
Joan's on Third American
Les Deux Magots French
Madeo Ristorante Italian
ManuH Cigar Lounge Saudi Arabian
Over Under British
Raoul's French
Scott's British
Sexy Fish Japanese
Spago American
WAGYUMAFIA Japanese
YAKINIKUMAFIA Japanese
Via Mercato Mixed

Cinema[edit]

  • Avant Garde
  • Interstellar
  • Oasis
  • Orient Express
  • Secret Garden
  • Tuwaiq Hall
  • Wall Street

References[edit]

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