Small Wonders

There are few cities on the planet at the moment able to out-do Riyadh for an atmosphere of urgency, growth, and change.

The causes of this growth are well known, with Saudi Arabia’s far-reaching Vision 2030 programme particularly important in its focus on improved liveability, economic prosperity and diversification away from oil. Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects, such as The Line and The Red Sea Project, attract a lot of column inches but in our work with architects Benoy we see how smaller scale retail developments in Riyadh, designed to improve the lives of residents, are also having a major impact on the city and society.

See and be seen

Whilst privacy remains an important part of Saudi culture, an increasing desire to promenade and socialise publicly with friends and family is evident in Riyadh. Boulevard City was one of the first signs of serious change in the Riyadh retail market, with its vast Times Square-esque digital screens, new leisure options and distinct linear, walkable format. Al Bujairi Terrace (seen above), recently opened as part of the Diriyah Gate master-development, is more premium but also provides a pedestrian-scale environment, with ample dwell and people-watching options in a first-to-market heritage setting.

Indoor-outdoor

With more time spent outside and a movement away from functional covered malls, and given the very high summer temperatures, new indoor-outdoor developments are a key part of the contemporary Riyadh retail landscape. Via Riyadh is one of the highest quality new mixed-use developments in the city, offering premium retail, destination fine dining and aspirational leisure concepts. Its key USP, however, is arguably the innovative design that creates shade; particularly on the lower ground floor, which has the feel of an air-conditioned space whilst being open-air. Solitaire, due to open later this year, will do something similar further north, with seamless connections between indoor and outdoor, and climate control across both.

Live-work-play

The concept of live-work-play is surging in Riyadh, with consumers seeing the benefit of retail facilities located nearer to homes and offices. With frequently terrible traffic in the city, easy access becomes even more important. The Zone provides for its local, affluent residents with a convenient mix of dining and amenities, such as gyms, salons and a co-working space. Hotels are also often being used as anchors to this new breed of mixed-use developments, such as at The Boulevard in north-west Riyadh. On a larger scale, King Abdullah Financial District is being developed as the city’s business heart and will provide a contemporary retail offer to its vast captive office worker population.

All under one roof

Of course, it is not only about the more specialist mixed-use developments; what are also being built are new mega malls, along similar lines to the UAE’s Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. Riyadh Park is arguably the best ‘all under one roof’ covered mall in the city as it stands but there is significant room for improvement in this part of the market, with Mall of Saudi and The Avenues likely to be the most immediate examples. They will provide world-leading entertainment complexes, with best-in-class retail store execution and new-to-market leisure concepts, such as an indoor ski slope at Mall of Saudi. There is undoubtedly demand for these new temples to commercialisation but it will be important to avoid over-supplying the market, as has happened in Dubai, for example, where many large malls struggle to attract sufficient footfall.

Understanding the rapidly growing Riyadh retail market is fundamental for developers, investors and anyone else looking to continue improving the lives of its residents. The examples covered above are only a small selection and there remains significant opportunity for new, engaging retail destinations and concepts.