DUBAI: Saudi Arabia-based Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez graced the red carpet at the 81st Venice International Film Festival this week, before she was awarded the Diva E Donna Woman of the Year Award for her Netflix series “Soy Georgina.”
She wore an Oscar de la Renta gown, which featured a strapless neckline with a softly draped bodice. The fabric flowed smoothly, creating a structured yet fluid look, and the dress was accented by a thigh-high slit and long train.
Rodriguez arrived in Venice on Tuesday aboard a private jet, wearing fitted black shorts paired with fishnet tights and a matching top before she changed into a back minidress. The model flew to Italy from Monaco, where she attended the UEFA Champions League Group Stage draw alongside her partner, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Georgina Rodriguez was spotted in a black mini dress. (Getty Images)
Rodriguez has been living in Saudi Arabia since January 2023, following Ronaldo’s signing with Al-Nassr football club. Since then, she has made an effort to explore the Kingdom and her experiences will be featured in the third season of her Netflix show.
The reality TV show “Soy Georgina” (“I Am Georgina”) will focus on her life in Saudi Arabia, documenting her journey after the move with Ronaldo.
“What is true luxury like in Saudi Arabia? We will find out when Gio and her family settle in Riyadh with Cristiano's signing for Al-Nassr,” Netflix stated.
According to the announcement, the season will also show Rodriguez enjoying a number of firsts, including the opening of her first beach house, Villa Perla, to starring in an international campaign for a luxury clothing brand and her Paris Fashion Week debut.
The star couple took some time off from their hectic schedules to explore Saudi Arabia’s coastline and the Red Sea development in June.
The two took to social media to post photos from their relaxing getaway at what seemed to be The St. Regis Red Sea Resort. They were seen enjoying the resort and its pristine beaches along with their children.
“My world,” Rodriguez captioned her post, featuring several images from the vacation.
In one of the photos, Portuguese footballer Ronaldo can be seen relaxing in a pool with his son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. who turned 14 this June.
Downtown Design Riyadh runs May 20-23 at JAX District
Updated 16 sec ago
Jasmine Bager
DHAHRAN: Downtown Design, a contemporary design fair that has run in the UAE for the last decade, will debut in Saudi Arabia from May 20 to 23 at JAX District, marking the Kingdom’s first official event dedicated to original, high-quality design.
“Downtown Design Riyadh, with its thoughtfully curated program and blend of local and global expertise, reflects our vision to build a dynamic design community that embodies the Kingdom’s rich and diverse cultural identity,” Sumayah Al-Solaiman, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission, wrote in a statement.
The multi-day activation will be held in partnership with the Architecture and Design Commission under the Ministry of Culture.
(Supplied)
Mette Degn-Christensen, director of Downtown Design, expressed her enthusiasm for the inaugural edition in the capital.
“I think you’re going to experience something that’s been really thoughtfully selected for this fair, with the unique setting of the location,” she told Arab News. “I’m very excited about the venue. It’s very historic, and it’s just a great way to kind of juxtapose the more modern and the historic, at the same time. If you think about it, nowhere in the world has an event of our nature in that kind of venue.
“I’m really kind of overwhelmed with how amazing it is to get to do a design fair literally on the terraces of the UNESCO heritage site (in Diriyah),” she added. “I think that’s really special.”
Degn-Christensen, a Danish design leader with more than 15 years of international experience, has directed Downtown Design in Dubai since 2021. She has helped expand the fair’s global reach and champion regional talent. She now brings that expertise to Saudi Arabia.
(Supplied)
“What excites me personally the most — and I think the team also — is this really genuine, encouraging energy in Riyadh,” she said. “I didn’t expect this welcome — it’s not easy to start a fair in a new country or a new market.”
For Degn-Christensen, one of the fair’s main goals is to “encourage you to maybe consider design more in your life and your work. And those are the things that we have been doing over the years. So I think (this is) almost, maybe, a fast-track version of that.”
And she believes the timing of the fair aligns with a growing appreciation among general society for thoughtful design.
“I think it’s the right time. There’s a shift in perspective of quality and of investing value into purchasing quality, sustainable long-lasting design,” she said. “(That’s true), I think, globally, but certainly in this region. I’m very excited about that kind of moment.
(Supplied)
“I think that it’s a good time for our fair also in terms of that there are fashion and luxury and art initiatives in the Kingdom, but when it comes to design and high quality, premium quality design, there isn’t really such an outlet yet,” she continued.
Downtown Design Riyadh will bring together a global roster of established brands, emerging designers and regional studios. Exhibitors include lighting innovators Tom Dixon, Brokis and Articolo, presented by Huda Lighting; Scandinavian furniture houses Audo Copenhagen, GUBI, and &Tradition, brought by The Bowery Company; and the regional debut of Scarlet Splendour, featuring bold brass pieces by designer Richard Hutten.
Kuwait-based Babnimnim Studio will present an architectural installation for Cosentino, exploring heritage and innovation, while Jotun Paints will stage a color-focused experience in collaboration with Saudi creatives.
French heritage brand Maison Louis Drucker will debut a digital collaboration with TRAME and Aranda\Lasch, “merging algorithmic design with traditional handcraft.”
A dedicated section of the fair will spotlight limited-edition and collectible works. Gallery COLLECTIONAL will showcase handcrafted furniture by Christophe Delcourt, sculptural lighting by Apparatus Studio, and vintage-inspired designs by Draga & Aurel. Venini’s artisanal glass, produced with Michele De Lucchi and Peter Marino, will be shown alongside luxury highlights from Visionnaire and Serafini.
In addition to the exhibits, Downtown Design Riyadh will also populate JAX District with pop-ups, creative interventions and a dynamic talks program. “Strata,” a modular outdoor installation by multidisciplinary studio Karim+Elias, made from locally-sourced sand and constructed using rammed-earth techniques, will merge traditional materials with contemporary design.
The talks series will bring together architects, developers, collectors and creatives to discuss “themes shaping design in the region and beyond.”
Downtown Design Riyadh reflects the Kingdom’s growing investment in culture and creativity under Vision 2030. The fair is set to become an annual platform supporting the Kingdom’s active interior-design market and connecting Saudi talent with global networks.
“It’s been a few years that we’ve been looking to start an initiative in Saudi and then we wanted to make sure that we did it at the right time, but also that we did it in the right way,” Degn-Christensen said. “There’s some overlap in the Dubai (team) and then there are some just from Riyadh — and it’s the same for suppliers and contractors. It’s certainly not a copy of what we’re doing in Dubai.”
Saudi artist Reem Al-Nasser discusses her Diriyah Art Futures Residency
Al-Nasser says she is inspired by area’s ‘natural beauty’
Updated 6 min 40 sec ago
Hams Saleh
DUBAI: Saudi artist Reem Al-Nasser has been selected for the inaugural Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency, a new initiative from Diriyah Art Futures.
The residency, which runs until July, brings together artists and scholars to explore emerging ecologies, speculative futures, and the evolving relationship between technology, nature and cultural heritage.
Organized by the Museums Commission under the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the residency supports experimental research and production in the field of digital and new media art.
Al-Nasser, one of three Saudi artists participating, described being selected as both an honor and a milestone in her artistic journey. (Supplied)
Participants are provided with a production budget and technical support, as well as access to labs and studios. The spring cohort includes artists and scholars from Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, France, Germany and the UK.
Al-Nasser, one of three Saudi artists participating, described being selected as both an honor and a milestone in her artistic journey.
“I felt immense happiness and deep honor,” she told Arab News. “Being chosen for such a prestigious residency was a validation of my artistic journey and gave me a sense of responsibility and excitement.”
The theme of the inaugural residency is “High-Resolution Dreams from the Sands.” Artists are encouraged to examine the intersections of land and technology. Al-Nasser’s interpretation of the theme centers on the flower known in Arabic as Al-Samh — a plant native to Saudi Arabia, which she uses as a symbol of resilience, healing and shelter.
Sketch of her upcoming work for the residency. (Supplied)
“I’m working on archiving the ancient behaviors associated with this flower as a symbol of defense and protection, incorporating its intricate details into digital artworks that simulate its essence,” she said.
Al-Nasser is developing a series of interactive digital installations that integrate visual projection, augmented reality and artificial intelligence to animate the symbolic qualities of the flower and bring them into a contemporary digital art context. Her goal is to create a multi-sensory experience that immerses viewers in the story of the flower, blending visual detail with conceptual depth.
“These tools allow me to present the intricate details of the Samh flower in a stunning and unprecedented way,” she said.
Al-Nasser often draws inspiration from traditional storytelling and behavioral patterns, using art to reframe these ideas through a modern lens. “My style is a blend of digital and physical media, with a focus on storytelling — restructuring and connecting ancient knowledge with modern elements,” she said. “Being in Diriyah opened my eyes to the importance of drawing inspiration from local elements and presenting them in a contemporary manner. It’s also encouraged me to experiment with modern techniques I haven’t used before.
Sketch of her upcoming work for the residency. (Supplied)
“Diriyah has also inspired me with its natural beauty, palm gardens and ancient forts, which have become a central focus in my work,” she continued. “The environment here encouraged me to deeply reflect on the relationship between nature and art and to celebrate its elements through technology. I hope people feel the profound connection between environmental science and the Desert Samh Flower and appreciate the power of nature in creating symbols that inspire art and creativity. I want them to reflect on the relationship between heritage and technology and how art can bridge the two.”
As the Kingdom invests more heavily in cultural infrastructure and platforms such as DAF, Al-Nasser believes local artists are increasingly positioned to shape the global conversation around digital and new media art.
“Saudi artists are producing remarkable works that are rooted in cultural heritage while integrating modern technologies,” she said. “They have the potential to revolutionize the global art scene by highlighting the beauty of local nature, like the Samh flower, in innovative ways.”
'Bakila Recipe,' 2024, presented in Paris. (Supplied)
Al-Nasser’s journey into art began in her teenage years, driven by a fascination with creative expression and storytelling. “Art became my way of understanding the world and sharing my perspective,” she said, adding that her creative inspirations often stem from historical and behavioral patterns.
“Ancient storytelling and understanding personal experiences were my primary sources of inspiration,” she explained. “I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty of subtle details in behaviors, their connection to time, and how art can highlight and center them in storytelling.”
Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj: from grunge gigs to Saudi cinema’s biggest laughs
The Saudi star discusses his latest movie, the action-comedy ‘Esaaf’
Updated 14 min 8 sec ago
Hind Al-Khunaizi
DHAHRAN: It wasn’t supposed to happen this way, not for Saudi actor, comedian, writer, and musician Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj anyway.
“Getting into acting was a coincidence,” he tells Arab News. “I used to be in a band. I played guitar and sang grunge rock and blues. But in 2012 a loss pushed me to stop music and look for something new.”
That something new didn’t come in the form of an epiphany or an elaborate five-year plan. It came quietly, like many meaningful changes do.
“In 2013, I came across an acting course, just by chance,” he recalls. “Then, in 2015, I took a workshop with Kevin Spacey in Sharjah. That’s when my career really started. That year was the true beginning.”
Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj (R) in 'Esaaf.' (Supplied)
Since then, Al-Hajjaj has become one of the most popular comedic actors in the Kingdom, known for his sharp wit, heartfelt roles, and endless commitment to culturally rooted storytelling. But the spark that lit it all was just as humble as his beginnings.
“The first time I acted on stage, my role was barely two minutes,” he said with a laugh. “I said a line, the actor in front of me responded, and suddenly I improvised. The whole theater burst into laughter. I turned to them, thinking, ‘What’s happening?’ Everyone looked so happy. At that moment, making people laugh was beautiful. I realized that comedy is like doing a good deed.”
That good deed would grow into 2023’s “Sattar,” a breakout hit and the highest-grossing film in the — admittedly short — history of Saudi cinema. But his new film, the action-comedy “Esaaf,” released last month, may challenge that. “We hope it breaks that record,” he says. “We’ve hit nearly 200,000 admissions.”
But for Al-Hajjaj, success is about more than numbers. “Success is defined by people,” he says. “It isn’t something artists define for themselves. If audiences are watching and enjoying your work, that’s success. At the end of the day, we make art for people to experience as a family. It has to be both meaningful and accessible.”
Set in Riyadh, “Esaaf,” helmed by British director Colin Teague, follows two incompetent paramedics — Omar (Al-Hajjaj) and Khalid (Mohammed Al-Qahtani) who unwittingly become entangled in a kidnapping plot.
The film saw Al-Hajjaj wearing many hats: co-writer, creative producer, and lead actor.
“I was on set for 14 hours daily, ensuring everything felt right: the dialogue, comedy, and the Saudi details. I was like the mother on set. It was exhausting but fulfilling.”
It’s clear that for Al-Hajjaj, storytelling is truly personal, and the stakes are high. One story in particular, from a nationwide meet-and-greet tour, stuck with him. “An11-year-old girl gave me a crumpled piece of paper with a black heart drawn on it. I went home and cried,” he recalls. “It reminded me that parents are trusting me with what matters most to them: their kids. And that trust means everything.”
And that’s what Al-Hajjaj wants to honor every time he walks on set.
“I hope always to make stories that are real, Saudi, full of heart, that families can enjoy together,” he says. “Because that’s what it’s really about; it’s about bringing people together and letting them laugh side by side. There’s nothing more beautiful than that.”
Mohammed Al-Turki attends ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ premiere at Cannes
Updated 15 May 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Saudi film producer Mohammed Al-Turki was spotted at the red carpet premiere of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.
Al-Turki, who previously served as CEO of the Red Sea International Film Festival, wore a midnight blue Berluti ensemble for the occasion. His look featured a satin and Super 200s micro design wool three-piece tuxedo, styled with a matching midnight blue bow tie and cotton shirt. He completed the outfit with black patent leather loafers.
Al-Turki posed for photos alongside Egyptian actress Yousra before the film’s screening. (Getty Images)
He posed for photos alongside Egyptian actress Yousra before the film’s screening.
US actor Greg Tarzan Davis, US actress Angela Bassett, US actor and producer Tom Cruise, French actress Pom Klementieff, US film director, screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie leave after the screening of the film 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. (Getty Images)
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” stars Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell and Ving Rhames, continuing the story from 2023’s “Dead Reckoning – Part One.” The sequel follows Ethan Hunt and his team as they face off against the Entity, a rogue AI threatening global security. With the previous installment underperforming at the box office, this chapter is seen as a crucial release for the franchise.
Saudi digital artist Maryam Tariq: ‘Art became a way to communicate with the world’
Updated 15 May 2025
Rebecca Anne Proctor
DUBAI: Against a black background, parts of a face emerge: a chin, followed by lips, ears and eyes — at times alone and at others in unison — colored in yellow, light pink and purple, accompanied by what appear to be lines of TV static in the same colors.
This digital work, “Memory Recall,” is the latest creation of Jeddah-based Saudi artist Maryam Tariq, which she presented in the digital section of Art Dubai in April, at the booth of Jeddah’s Hafez Gallery. Over the past five years, Tariq, who was born and raised in Yanbu, has made a name for herself with her mixed-media artworks, often utilizing light and 3D projection mapping.
This digital work, “Memory Recall,” is the latest creation of Jeddah-based Saudi artist Maryam Tariq. (Supplied)
“Memory Recall” creates an alluring, dream-like environment. Tariq says it references human perception just after birth. The work was influenced by philosophical theories about early human development, particularly those of German psychoanalyst Erich Neumann.
“I wanted to bring back the faded memory of when we were first born and our consciousness was still forming,” she tells Arab News. “It’s an abstract memory because our brain is still trying to make sense of the world; it doesn’t know the difference between an eye or an apple.
“I feel the artwork represents a good place — a place where our ego hasn’t yet been formed,” she continues. “It’s a good place to try and be in from time to time.”
The work offers a sense of what she calls “mystical participation,” referring to the period where a newborn has yet to identify themselves as an individual and is trying to make sense of the world around them. By prompting the viewer to delve back into such a state through the work’s dynamic interplay of light and shadows heightened with color, Tariq strives to remove the sense of “I” that dominates our collective experience.
Tariq’s interest in creating art came early in life, she says, inspired by her father.
“My father is an engineer and also an artist, but it’s more of a hobby for him,” she tells Arab News. As a child she would watch him sketch and paint and wanted to do the same.
Her work largely focuses on exploring sacred geometry and the spiritual principles that shape nature, resulting in surreal works bridging the realm of digital and traditional art. (Supplied)
“It was our way to spend time together. As a child I wasn’t especially talkative or social and art became a way for me to communicate with the world, my friends and family,” she explains.
Tariq studied animation at Effat University in Jeddah, and earned her diploma in visual and digital production, which she describes as being similar to filmmaking, as it has a strong focus on storytelling.
Since then, her work has largely focused on exploring sacred geometry and the spiritual principles that shape nature, resulting in surreal works bridging the realm of digital and traditional art.
In 2020 she launched The Golden Ratio, her own media art agency, which has since produced immersive visual experiences for music festivals and concerts alongside DJs and producers across the Gulf region and Europe.
Her first solo exhibition, “Remembering the Future,” took place at Hafez Gallery in Jeddah in 2021, and was followed by her inclusion in the 2022 exhibition “Re-appearing Imaginaries” at the Misk Art Institute in Riyadh as well as in Noor Riyadh that same year. In 2023, she showed her work at the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival and in 2024 she was part of the Noise Media Art fair in Vienna, Austria.
Tariq recently completed a stint at the Artist Inn Residency in Ubud, Bali, which prompted her to embrace nature and traditional art forms while also distancing herself a little from the tech that dominates daily life.
“I feel sometimes I get exhausted from using too much technology and feel like just going back to nature and using my hands. So that’s what I did,” she says. “I learned how to sculpt. And after I took it into the digital world. It was a nice experience to mix both.
“I feel drawn to the digital realm because it’s fun and you can do so much with it; you can go wild with your imagination,” she continues. “But I also feel more involved with traditional (art). While technology is always being updated — always growing with new things to do and explore — I also love the traditional. I feel, sometimes, the need to strike a balance between both.”
Through her art, Tariq hopes to offer her viewers an experience of escape, contemplation and possibly a shift in perception.
“I want to take them to this place where they are calm and are just a baby again, experiencing the world for the first time to make sense of things,” she says of “Memory Recall.” “It’s an experience where color is new, and everything is new. I want to offer this perspective of looking at the world with pure eyes.”
