Looking for the best way to spend the next 48 hours? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re after fun new restaurants or a cool new art exhibition, we have you covered. Here are great things to do in Riyadh this weekend.
Attend The Desert Polo Tournament in AlUla
The Desert Polo Tournament is back. The four-team polo competition featuring Adolfo Cambiaso and La Dolfina Saudi Polo Team, promises to be packed with energy. The only polo event of its kind in the desert, it aims to show off the glorious AlUla landscape and enrich visitors with knowledge about the region’s history and horses.
Click here for the full story.
SAR450. Sat Feb 11-12. AlUla. experiencealula.com.
Chill out at Aseel Garden
Aseel Resort seems to be one of the prettiest places in Riyadh. It has gorgeous palm trees, lush greenery and soft lighting to help people to relax calm down. The guest lounge is photogenic, so you can take a sip and get a pic for the ‘gram as you get away from it all. Feel a little hungry? It serves good burgers and steaksm too.
Minimum charge SAR50. Open Sun-Thu 5pm-1am. Fri-Sat 5pm-2am. Wadi Hanifa Road, Riyadh, aseelresorts.com (055 7022 222).
Celebrate two years of Yauatcha
Yauatcha is a cool contemporary dim sum spot here in Riyadh from the team behind global dim sum spot Hakkasan. The anniversary menu features dhao yùn lucky dim sum which includes a smoked duck shui mai, seabass dumplings, and a black pepper chicken puff. While the menu does have larger dishes like crab meat served with pineapple-fried rice and Szechuan-style ribeye beef, the spot is pretty much known for the trademark dim sum and sharing-style plates.
Until Feb 28. SAR350 per person, minimum two guests. Open daily noon-11.30pm. Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Rd, Al Olaya, instagram.com/yauatchariyadh.
Dine in style at the new SALT restaurant
Famous for delicious fast-food-style burger food trucks (and some lucky permanent locations), this chain is launching a brand-new fine-dining concept in Riyadh. Click here for the top burgers in Riyadh.
Open daily 2pm-1am.Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Awwal Road, U Walk, instagram.com/findsalt.
Enjoy the last day of the Kan Yama Kan performance
This performance of Kan Yama Kan combines the retelling of the traditional stories of 1001 Arabian Nights through stories of love, family, friendship and life.
From SAR150. Fri Feb 4- Fri Feb 11. Global Theatre, Hittin, Prince Turki Bin Abdulaziz Road, riyadhseason.sa.
Get into the zone at NuYu Fitness Club
This female-only club just launched a new location. NuYu Fitness Club has a spin cycling studio so you can get your cardio workout in. And it also offers dance/les mills classes. There’s a free trial day so can get a feel of the environment before signing up for a membership. Read more here.
Open Sun-Thu 10am-10pm. Fri 1pm-9pm. Sat 10am-9pm. Airport Road, King Khalid International Airport, nuyu-ksa.com.
Live the Squid Game experience with Riyadh Season
Riyadh Season just keeps on giving. This time around, we have an exciting Squid Game event happening at Boulevard Riyadh City. Squid Game is one of Netflix’s biggest hits of all time, and is also one of Saudi Arabia’s top-watched shows of all time. Dress in the iconic green tracksuits and enjoy. This experience gets the green light from us.
SAR230. Until Thu Mar 31. 1pm-1am. Boulevard Riyadh City, riyadhseason.sa.
Munch on tasty treats at Treats and Beans
Take your pick from crêpes, cookies and coffee at this new café. The signature dish is the humble waffle, which the chefs aim to redefine and show how it can be served any time of the day. The interiors are lit up with pink LED lights, too, giving everything a rosy glow.
Open daily 9am-midnight. Al Takhassousi, Al Mohammadiyyah, instagram.com/treatsandbeans.riyadh (050 870 7001).
Sip coffee at Boss. Co Roastery
Boss Co. Roastery is the latest venue to hit the coffee scene. The menu has two sections: espresso drinks and brew bar. Choose from a cortado, flat white, Spanish latte (iced and hot) and Americano. Sip up.
Open Sat-Thu 7am-midnight. Fri 1pm-midnight. Olaya St, Olaya, instagram.com/boss.co.sa.
Watch Marry Me in cinemas
John Bradley, aka Game of Thrones’ Samwell Tarly, is having a moment. It’s only February and, when not on a desperate mission to save the world (see Moonfall), the Mancunian is popping up in rom-com Marry Me. The actor joins Sarah Silverman, as they are dragged along by the whirlwind romance/contractual obligations of Jennifer Lopez’s global superstar Kat and Owen Wilson’s schlubby everyman Charlie in this fun film.
In cinemas Thu Feb 10. ksa.voxcinemas.com/movies/marry-me.
Looking for more exciting things to do in Riyadh?
The first Saudi Games is coming
The games will start on Thursday March 10.
Read more here.
Alicia Keys to perform in AlUla
The international singer is taking to the stage this month.
Read more here.
The Saudi Cup comes to Riyadh
The Saudi Cup gallops into town, here everything you need to know.
Read more here.
