US$60bn
GOLF RESORTS AND COUNTRY CLUBS A big component of the leisure market in modern Saudi Arabia is its golf courses and country clubs. Initially patronised mainly by expatriates, the facilities today see a good representation of young Saudis who have embraced the best of the outside and are balancing the traditional with the modern in their outlook. Dirab Golf & Country Club is
the fi rst grassed 18-hole par-72 Championship and nine-hole par-27 Academy golf course in Saudi Arabia. Located 45 kilometres south west of Riyadh and nestled in the picturesque Tawfi q valley, the club is open all year round and features lush tree-lined fairways and perfectly manicured greens. Apart from enjoying the distinction of hosting some of the biggest tournaments in Saudi Arabia and in the GCC, the club is a complete outdoor lifestyle destination for Riyadh’s upwardly mobile set, offering horse riding, fl oodlit tennis courts, swimming pools, cycling tracks, camping and outdoor areas, plus a clubhouse with restaurants, lounges and meeting rooms, among other facilities. Other golf and country clubs
include the Arizona Golf Resort and The InterContinental Palms Golf & Country Club in Riyadh, Dunes Golf Club and Rolling Hills Golf Club in Dahran, the Whispering Sands Golf Club in Jubail and the Yanbu Golf Club near Jeddah. Opening on the outskirts of
Riyadh in 2014 is the Al Faisa liah at Durrat Arriyadh, a new resort operated by Rosewood. Located approximately 15 minutes outside the capital, the 28-acre property will feature 153 spacious guest rooms and suites and 10 private villas. There will be three outdoor pools and four private pool chalets complete with their own indoor and outdoor lounge areas and private pool. There will also be a range of upscale dining options.
T e total worth of the Saudi Arabian domestic retail market, according to fi gures from
investment fi rm Al Rajhi Capital. T e sector has grown almost 50 percent in the last fi ve years
reaching new audiences and improving understanding through a variety of platforms including exhibitions, publications and education programmes targeting schools and universities. Their works and exhibitions can be seen in several galleries around the kingdom as well as abroad. Some of the notable art galleries
2
FOCUS ON EDUCATION Te importance that Saudi Arabia places on
education is underscored by the fact that it was the first country in the entire Gulf region to establish an institution of higher learning when it set up the King Saud University in 1957. Today, the kingdom has a vibrant education sector supported by 24
government universities as well as numerous private colleges and
government institutions that provide university- level education.
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Among the notable universities in Saudi
Arabia, this public research university is located in Tuwal, 80 kilometres north of Jeddah. It boasts the third largest endowment of any
university in the world,
following Harvard and Yale and is often referred as a new 'House of Wisdom' and an 'Arab MIT'.
Qassim University
Educational facilities have opened their doors to the conference sector,
too. Qassim University, for instance, is planning a separate modern
convention centre with a 2,500-seat auditorium, 5,000 square metres of exhibition space and various ancillary facilities.
Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University (PNU)
Te largest women-only university in the world,
located in Riyadh also has a large convention centre.
3
MODERN ART Something of a cultural explosion is taking place in Saudi Arabia as young Saudi artists express themselves through various media. One of the best known artist groups in the kingdom is Edge of Arabia, an independent arts initiative that seeks to develop an appreciation of contemporary Arab art and culture with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. Started by a group of artists in Abha city who called themselves Shattah, which means to be broken or dismantled, Edge of Arabia today is well-known even outside the country and has branches as far away as London. The leading lights of this initiative are Saudi artists Ahmed Mater and Abdulnasser Gharem, as well as Stephen Stapleton, a British artist. As a social enterprise Edge of Arabia is committed to
behind the vibrant Saudi art scene are Athr Gallery in Jeddah, Hewar Art Gallery Saudi Arabia, Darat Safeya Binzagr and Crimson Art Gallery. Most of these venues deal with themes of contemporary Arabic art and sculpture, as well as historic Arab art and those with classical Arabic motifs. Some galleries also host group events and familiarisation sessions about the landscape of Arab art and culture for afi cionados.
GASTRONOMY Saudi Arabia is fast acquiring a reputation for refi ned culinary tastes. So popular has fi ne dining become and such are the improvements in the quality of food being served, that a six-day gastronomic summit in the Globe Restaurant in Riyadh’s Al Faisaliah Tower, where six Michelin-starred restaurant chefs were invited to speak, was convened to offer the best Saudi restaurants advice on how to earn a Michelin star.
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