Beyoncé: We think she got it right when her pretty phenomenal pipes belted out the lyrics to “Run The World (Girls)” way back in 2011. A lot has changed for women in the world, and in the Kingdom, since Bey released that track, with a number of trailblazers clocking up some pretty impressive firsts in Saudi.
We’ve witnessed the emergence of the first female aerospace engineer, Mishaal Ashemimry, who hopes to rocket into space one day. And Raha Moharrak became the first Saudi woman to climb Everest – and conquer the other seven highest peaks in each continent. Most recently, Dania Akeel and Mashael Alobaidan became the first females from the Kingdom to get behind the wheel of a buggy and complete at this year’s gruelling Dakar rally.
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They’ve not only proved that it’s possible to #BreakTheBias, they’ve pretty much smashed it out of the park. And they’re just the start of things. If you’re looking to see even more pioneering women, visit these fabulous female-led businesses.
So Matcha
If you’re constantly glued to online beauty tutorials, you’re probably already one of Yara Alnamlah’s 1.3 million tribe. And you’ll likely already know that she’s a FROW regular, she’s recently completed her architecture degree, and she was also a jury member at the recent AIUIa Design Awards (phew).
Yet, with a diary busier than BTS’ tour schedule, Alnamlah somehow managed to find time to open So Matcha, an Insta-worthy hangout for tasty whisks of everyone’s favourite powered green tea. Get the matcharistas to whip you up a deliciously sweet Into The Sky before snapping a Selfie under the “I love you so matcha” neon light.
Open Sat-Wed 6am-midnight; Thu 6am-2am; Fri 4pm-2am. 7089 Abi Bakr Al Siddik Rd, An Nada, instagram.com/somatcha.me.
SALT
Salt might be the most basic of ingredients, but think how bland food be would without it – it’s essential if you want to pack a flavourful punch. And we’d be lost without SALT – a staple of Riyadh’s food scene. From its Airstream trailer, which claimed legions of devoted Salters whenever it rocked up in the city, to its latest incarnation, which delivers a rather fancy-schmancy supper club vibe in the U Walk mall, co-founders Amal Al Marri and Deem Al Bassam never fail to surprise us. It’s time to roll out the red carpet and give those famed burgers, sliders and fries the gourmet treatment.
Requeue App (waitlist). Open daily 10pm-2am. U Walk, Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awal Road, An Nakheel, @findsalt.
Takya
We love nothing more than celebrating brands that champion the Kingdom’s heritage, particularly when it’s done in delightfully moreish way. Cofounded by sisters Hadeel and Hissa Al Motawa and Nada Al Qasabi, Takya takes you on a tour of Saudi Arabia’s provinces and plates up tasty morsels as if they’ve come from the pass at a Michelin-starred restaurant. We’re talking haneeth, smoked lamb rack and rice with a sauce so good you’ll want swim in it, and parcels of cheese and tomato mutabaq that are elevated by a tangy tomato and lemon marmalade. Look out for Takya’s newest destination at the swanky Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah coming soon.
Open daily 4pm-midnight. Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah, @takya_sa.
Pattern Concept Store
Achingly cool collection of fashion? Check. On-site cafe? Check. Array of “I want it now” art and design pieces. Check. Cool collabs and pop-up events? Check. So far, so modern concept store. But, wait… a unicorn table lamp? Yep, that’s the kind of objet d’art that marks Pattern Concept Store out from the rest.
And while you’re fighting not to buy the entire store’s stock, you’ve just got time to swing by Pattern’s pastel-hued gift shop pop-up at the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale to get books from luxury publisher Assouline and more.
Biennale branch: Open Sat-Thu 11am-11pm. Fri 2pm-11pm. Closes Fri Mar 11. JAX01, Diriyah. Main store: Open Sat-Thu 9am-midnight. Fri 4pm-midnight. 8563 Prince Abdulaziz Ibn Musaid Ibn Jalawi St, As Sulimaniyah, @pattern_saudi (053 865 6989).
Personage
If you want to take the temperature of the Saudi fashion scene and get ahead of your mates in threads from hip global designers, a trip to Personage is should get you up to speed. The brainchild of Her Highness Princess Deemah Bint Mansour Bin Saud Alsaud, you’ll love the endless discovery of “I saw it first” talent (nod to Nobadvibez and Lama Albluwi) showcased in the industrial-looking space.
And with fashion, fragrance and accessories in the mix, you’ll have entire outfits sorted in no time. You’ll probably need a minute to chill in the Ooze coffee lounge while you work out how much you can pack in your wardrobe. (Answer: there’s always room.)
Open Sat-Wed 1pm-11pm; Thu 1pm-midnight; Fri 5pm-midnight. Hittin, personage.sa.com (053 332 3345).
TorbaStudio
You know a fashion brand means business when it creates its own muse. And the veiled character fashioned from the minds of Nazek Alkhulaifi and Sara AlAmmel is certainly a talking point. The ethos here is modest wear with an injection of modernity, and the design squad’s creation for the Saudi 100 Brands exhibition (head off for an Insta stalk now if you missed it), is a good example of the brand’s almost otherworldly aesthetic. Personage has already got TorbaStudio in the bag (natch), but you can check out the designs in the brand’s own TorbaSpace before buying online.
Open Sat-Wed 4pm-midnight. Thu-Fri 5pm-1.30am. Hittin. torbastudio.com (966 55 614 7578).
Tana’s Touch
If, like us, you lose hours to Insta admiring pretty tablescapes (fancy table settings to the uninitiated) and wishing that your tired set-up looked as picture perfect, it’s time to pop Ruthana Hadhrawi on speed dial. Her love of entertaining and natural eye for an artfully placed napkin will ensure you never look at plates and cutlery in the same way again. Enlist Hadhrawi’s help through her nifty design and rental service and she will quickly turn your table from ordinary to extraordinary.
Open Sun-Thu 9am-2pm & 5pm-8pm 7425 Turki Al Awwal, Hittin, tanastouch.com.sa (011 485 8795).
Acoustic Restaurant and Gallery
Art and dining go together like cheese and crackers – it’s an irresistible combination. But few do it quite as well as Samar Alhashim’s beautifully considered space in Al Olaya. As you might expect from someone who helms My Saudi Wellness, a programme dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle choices, the vast menu at Acoustic displays the calorie counts of each dish and is packed with delicious lighter options. The sweet-toothed don’t need worry: There are cakes and sweet treats aplenty for those looking for something to end their meals.
Open daily 8am-midnight. Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Rd, acoustic-ksa.com/acoustic-art-gallery (011 416 4363).
Al Yamamah Football Club
Got a budding football star in your midst? If your kids (or maybe even you) are looking for more than just a kick about in the park, you could sign them up for youth programmes available for girls (aged four to 16) and boys (aged four to 12) at the Al Yamamah Football Club. (There’s ladies programmes if they’re 16 or above).
Established by Adwa Al-Arifi in 2007, Al Yamamah FC was the city’s first female football club at the time, paving the way for other female teams to pop up around the Kingdom. And now Al-Arifi has broken through another glass ceiling by becoming the first woman appointed to the Saudi Football Federation. So, grab that ball and discover whether you can bend it like Beckham.
Persian Gulf St, Al Safarat, @alyamamafc / @alyamamahfc (055 234 6788).
Doves Ride
If you prefer your fitness training to be on two wheels, Doves Ride is for you. Whatever your experience with pedal power, Shadh Alturki has been training people of all abilities ever since she created Saudi’s first professional cycling team in 2016. You can join one of the group training sessions or jump on one of Doves Rides’ brilliant tours. All equipment is included.
Book via WhatsApp. @dovesride.
Pulse Performing Arts
Samira Alkhamis might be dubbed “The Saudi ballerina”, but she’s making is possible for more to follow in her graceful steps thanks to the classes offered at her studio. Both adults and kids can register to be taught the art of executing the perfect pirouette and more. Classes in both ballet and lyrical dance are currently available, with Samira herself leading many of the sessions. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of Saudi’s brightest stars.
@pulse.performingarts.
