Just a week after Jeddah Art Week come another initiative sure to further Saudi Arabia’s place on the design scene: Saudi Design Week. The inaugural edition hosts talks, exhibitions and workshops from regional and international participants boosting Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a premier cultural hub.

Created by O Art Projects and organized by Oasis Magazine in partnership with the King Faisal Foundation for Research and Islamic Studies, the event temporarily transforms the major cities of Saudi Arabia into different platforms through which to create a dialogue about design. The fair is devoted to exhibiting and supporting design products by established and emerging designers from Saudi Arabia and internationally.

One of the main features of the event is the series of workshops and lectures that acts as a catalyst to bring the community together. Among the highlights to attend is a Culturally Led Designs Panel Discussion on 13 February presenting Kholoud Attar, founder of Design Magazine; Najla’a Al-Bassam, designer and founder of Haya Design Studio and Raneen Bukhari of Desert Designs. Also on 13 February is the Creative Cube Workshop, a hands-on workshop using wooden cubes to inspire creative thinking.

Such an initiative puts the spotlight on Saudi Arabia to reveal the country’s little known and emerging design scene.

The fair runs from 9-15 February 9-15 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For more information visit Saudi Design Week.