Every life is a story, shaped by places that leave their mark. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's unyielding capital, doesn't just sit at the center of a nation. It pulses with a story that's both ancient and fiercely modern. From desert trading post to a city remaking itself through Vision 2030, Riyadh's raw Arabian soul and bold ambition inspired our Global Citizens Collection.
This is a place where heritage runs deep, where change is relentless, and where the world is finding a new kind of belonging, rooted in Arabia, open to all.
A Desert Born to Connect
Centuries ago, Riyadh was Hajr, a rugged stop in the Al-Yamamah region where Bedouin hospitality met the dust of caravans. Traders from Persia, India, and the Levant didn't just pass through, they lingered, sharing coffee, stories, and deals in the shade of palm groves.
This wasn't some polished global hub; it was real, gritty, Arabian. Trust was currency, strangers became kin, and survival meant opening your tent to the world. That fierce, practical welcome, born in the desert, still defines Riyadh's spirit. It's what caught our eye: a city that's never been afraid to engage, on its own terms.
Vision 2030, An Arabian Reclamation
In 2016, Vision 2030 didn't just launch a plan. It lit a fire. Riyadh wasn't chasing the West or copying neighbors; it was reclaiming its place as a force. The changes came fast, and they were real.
In 2018, women took the wheel, not just driving but claiming their space in a society ready to move. Cinemas opened after decades, screens lighting up with stories that spoke to Saudis and beyond. Riyadh Season, born in 2019, turned the city into a living festival with music, markets, and crowds, drawing millions to a capital that's as much about joy as it is about tradition.
By 2025, Riyadh's story grew bolder. New laws cracked open doors once shut, letting outsiders invest in the city's future with fewer barriers. The Premium Residency Program became a symbol: a SAR 4 million investment could anchor entire families in Riyadh's orbit, no longer just visitors but part of its fabric.
This isn't about becoming "global" for the sake of it, it's about a proud Arabian city saying, "We're ready to share our story with the world."
A City That Doesn't Pretend
Riyadh's power lies in its honesty. It's not a finished product. It's a city in motion, and that's what makes it alive. The Riyadh Metro ties old souks to new towers, carrying families, dreamers, and dealmakers across a sprawling capital. King Salman Park carves green from the desert, where kids play and cultures cross without fanfare.
Qiddiya Entertainment City isn't just a project. It's a statement that Riyadh can draw the world, not just for faith but for ambition and life. With Expo 2030 on the horizon and a bid for the 2034 Asian Games, this city's not waiting for approval. It's building its own stage.
Walk through Diriyah, the UNESCO-listed cradle of the Al-Saud dynasty, and you feel the weight of history with mud-brick walls whispering of conquest and resilience. Then step into the financial district, where glass towers hum with deals that span continents.
This is Riyadh: unapologetically Arabian, unafraid to evolve.
The Stories That Inspired Us
We met Amal, a Yemeni artist who moved to Riyadh in 2023. She found a city that didn't ask her to shed her roots but gave her space to grow. "Riyadh's not trying to be anything else," she told us. "It's Saudi, through and through, but it's got room for my story."
Her art, blending Yemeni patterns with modern Saudi motifs, now hangs in galleries near the National Museum. She's not just a visitor, she's part of Riyadh's next chapter, proof that this city can hold your past while pushing you forward.
Then there's Omar, a Saudi entrepreneur raised in Riyadh's old quarters. He watched his city transform, from quiet evenings in traditional majlis to boardrooms buzzing with global startups. "Vision 2030 isn't about changing who we are," he said. "It's about showing the world what we've always been, open, driven, real."
His tech firm, born in a Riyadh co-working space, now partners with firms from Singapore to Silicon Valley, all while rooted in the city's souks and coffeehouses.
Why Riyadh Sparked Our Vision
Riyadh's story isn't about becoming something it's not. It's about amplifying what it's always been. A place where Arabian hospitality meets unrelenting ambition. A city that honors its desert roots while building a future that welcomes the world.
We didn't choose Riyadh for our Global Citizens Collection because it's a polished global hub. It's not. We chose it because it's real, because its transformation is raw and ongoing, because it proves you can stay true to your identity while opening your gates.
This is what global citizenship means in Riyadh: not erasing borders, but crossing them with pride. It's a city where your story, whether you're from Yemen, Lebanon, or halfway across the globe—finds a home without losing its soul.
Riyadh inspired us because it's writing a story that's bigger than any one nation, yet fiercely, unmistakably Arabian.
