VIA Riyadh opens its doors to visitors with a luxurious twist

Located in Riyadh, the Salmani architecture used in the area blends in with the capital’s local character. (Huda Bashatah)
Located in Riyadh, the Salmani architecture used in the area blends in with the capital’s local character. (Huda Bashatah)
Short Url
Updated 14 May 2023

VIA Riyadh opens its doors to visitors with a luxurious twist

Located in Riyadh, the Salmani architecture used in the area blends in with the capital’s local character. (Huda Bashatah)
  • VIA Riyadh offers customers a shopping experience by showcasing local and international brands, making it the premier location for luxury shopping.

RIYADH: The wait is over as luxurious destination VIA Riyadh finally opens on May 11. 

Located in Riyadh, the Salmani architecture used in the area blends in with the capital’s local character. It offers customers a shopping experience showcasing local and international brands, making it the premier location for luxury shopping.  

The area also features the renowned five-star St. Regis Riyadh hotel and seven luxurious cinemas, one of which is open for individual reservations. 

The destination is home to numerous high-end restaurants, international cafes, the luxurious ManuH Cigar Lounge, and the Via Mercato food store. Other food spots include Indian-inspired Gymkhana, and Spago, led by the internationally-renowned, two-Michelin-starred chef Wolfgang Puck. 

VIA Riyadh offers a shopping experience that includes a range of luxury fashion brands, as well as art stores such as Phoenix Ancient Art, Richard Orlinski, and Artfeena — a Saudi gift shop that offers antiques inspired by the Saudi culture and the Kingdom’s various regions. 

Abdullah Al-Olayyan, sales account manager, said that Artfeena tells the story of Saudi culture. 

“This is an art boutique that showcases our heritage in a contemporary style, and every piece tells a different story, and we decided to open in VIA Riyadh because we want to show the world our heritage and culture and deliver it through gifts,” Al-Olayyan told Arab News. 

The area also boasts an exhibition called Seven, which showcases some of the most valuable and rare classic cars in history. 

To further enhance the shopping experience, VIA Riyadh features the Indulge in Luxury Center, which provides fashion services, personal shoppers, and a team of experts. 

Fashion and footwear brands like Ashi, Elie Saab, Brandon Maxwell, Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, Zimmermann, Mwas, Isaia, Aquazzura, and Sergio Rossi are also available in the area, as are watch and jewlry brands like Bellucci, Charles Oudin, David Webb, Cle, L’Atelier Nawbar, and Maria Tash. 

Visitors who want a fresh haircut can visit Chaps & Co and Jacques La Coupe hair salon. 

Various premium services are available to VIA Riyadh guests to improve their stay, including delivery services, valet parking, and personal assistant service. 

To learn more about VIA Riyadh, please visit the site. 


Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative

Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative
Updated 01 June 2023

Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative

Malaysian minister lauds Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative

RIYADH: Malaysian Interior Minister Saifuddin Nasution praised Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative, facilitating the travel procedures of Hajj pilgrims from Malaysia.

The statement was made during Nasution’s visit on Wednesday to a hall dedicated to the initiative at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, where he was briefed on its readiness to facilitate pilgrims’ journey.

The Makkah Route initiative enables Hajj pilgrims from six countries to complete immigration, cargo and travel procedures before departing for the Kingdom.
 


Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win

Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win
Updated 01 June 2023

Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win

Saudi crown prince congratulates Turkiye’s Erdogan on presidential win

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Thursday.

The Crown Prince congratulated Erdogan after he was declared the victor in a historic runoff Turkish election.

Prince Mohammed wished the president success and the Turkish people further progress and prosperity.


Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia

Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia
Updated 31 May 2023

Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia

Italian government lifts restrictions on export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia
  • The decision ended an embargo that began in 2019

ROME: The Italian government on Wednesday lifted restrictions on the export of military weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending an embargo which began in 2019.

The move was announced in a communique at the end of a Council of Ministers presided over by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The decision was made “in accordance with the foreign and defense policy of Italy,” the official communique said.

Restrictions on the export of weapons from Italy to Saudi Arabia were imposed by the Italian government to prevent their use in the conflict in Yemen.

The Italian government added: “Today there is no more reason to keep those restrictions standing any longer.

“The regional context in Yemen has changed, and since April 2022, partly thanks to the truce, military activities have been sensibly circumscribed.”

Italy now believes that the reduction in military operations “significantly also mitigates the risk of misuse of bombs and missiles, particularly against civilian targets.”

Rome also acknowledged that the Kingdom “has pursued intensive diplomatic activity in support of UN mediation and was also active in a decisive manner on the economic and humanitarian assistance front.”

The press release added that in the light of the “changed situation of the conflict, the Council of Ministers states that the export of bombs and missiles to Saudi Arabia does not fall under the prohibitions of exports established by Italian laws, and is in accordance with the foreign and defense policy of Italy.”
 


Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica

Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica
Updated 31 May 2023

Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica

Al-Jubeir meets ambassadors from US, Costa Rica
  • Al-Jubeir wished Ratney success in his new role and in fulfilling his duties

RIYADH: Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, on Wednesday met newly appointed US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, in Riyadh.

Al-Jubeir wished Ratney success in his new role and in fulfilling his duties.

Al-Jubeir also met non-resident Francisco Chacon Hernandez, Costa Rica’s ambassador to the Kingdom. The parties discussed bilateral relations as well as issues of mutual interest.
 


Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief

Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief
Updated 31 May 2023

Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief

Kenyan defense minister meets Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition chief

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi met Kenyan Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale in Nairobi on Wednesday to discuss counterterrorism and violent extremism-related issues.

During his meeting with Al-Moghedi, the Kenyan minister praised the coalition’s framework – for military, counterterrorism, anti-terrorism financing, as well as intellectual and media matters – as a strategic pillar in fighting terrorism and violent extremism.

He added that terrorism has its roots in intellectual and ideological orientations, which constitute the basis of the extremist approach.

“Working on preparing the mindset and integrating it within the proper framework constitutes one of the proactive action pillars aimed to repress and contain extremist thinking,” Duale said.

Al-Moghedi said that strategic initiatives by the coalition in its counterterrorism efforts have taken into consideration the hierarchy of terrorist tendencies.

The secretary-general also spoke about social media and communication platforms, and their role in influencing users. He also discussed countering illegal terror financing through military support and assistance services.