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 Company to build a St. Regis Hotel in Riyadh and an EDITION hotel in Jeddah by 2022.[10]
A week before its official opening on 11 May 2023,[14][15] the Riyadh Calendar released a 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
Architecture
Exterior of VIA Riyadh, 2034
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
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]
