Harrods Hive Saudi Arabia

The Harrods Hive returned to Riyadh for its second consecutive year with ‘The Connector’. Building on its mission to foster collaboration and innovation within the industry, this year’s event gathered global and local voices to explore creativity, connectivity and the evolving luxury landscape.

Hosted at The Diriyah Gate Development, The Hive brought together Saudi Arabia’s brightest emerging talents across design, art and entrepreneurship. Guests included key figures in the luxury industry, alongside Saudi Youth Society representatives, who continue their pivotal role of developing the next generation of talent, bridging cultures and inspiring meaningful action. The event featured thought-provoking panels moderated by prominent journalist and TV presenter Weam Aldakheel.

The first panel, ‘Growing a Creative Community in the Spotlight’, featured designer Yousef Tammar, artist and curator Lulwah Al Homoud, chef Mona Mosly and MDL Beast’s head of Marketing and Programming Yasmine Rasool, who discussed how collaboration drives expansion of the city’s luxury landscape.

The ‘Stories That Matter: Owning Your Passion & Pioneering Change’ panel delved into the personal journeys of cultural changemakers, with HRH Prince Saud bin Mouatsem Al Saud, opera singer Sawsan Albahiti and boxing coach Rasha Al Khamis among those sharing insights on how passion fuels societal impact.

The day closed with the ‘Sparking Innovation Locally through Global Influences’ discussion, featuring Abdulaziz A. Alobaid, Dr. Effat Abdullah Fadag and Mishal Islam, who highlighted the intersection of national ideas and local traditions in shaping Riyadh’s future.

The highly anticipated arrival of The Hive in Saudi Arabia kicked off with a welcome event at AlBujari Terrace, located within the Diriyah Gate Development. As the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Diriyah is a core branch of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision and is set to become the cultural and historic heart of the region. For this event, Harrods partnered with the Saudi Youth Society, who play an instrumental role in connecting cultures, inspiring affirmative action and nurturing the next generation of talent.  

The Saudi Hive kicked off with a welcome reception at The Ampitheatre, AlBujari Terrace to introduce The Hive and its initiatives to both new and familiar faces. Guests included some of Saudi’s brightest rising stars across design, fashion and entrepreneurship, as well as celebrity guest speakers, panelists and previous guests of the popular Harrods x Gems of Arabia podcast.

TV presenter and journalist Ajwa Al Joudi moderated a series of discussions on rarity, exclusivity and luxury. She has been featured in magazines such as Haya and Harper’s Bazaar Saudi Arabia and has worked with some of the world’s most luxury brands, including Piaget. The audience was filled with students chosen by the Saudi Youth Society.

The Illuminating Rare Talent talk featured business partners Basma Bouzo and Banan Al Yaquby as its panellists, who are both co-founders of the creative consultancy agency &bouqu. Basma is also CEO of Saudi Design Week and Banan is the founder of Quby Creative Consultants. The discussion was focused on how makers in the Middle East are blending traditional craftsmanship with new techniques to create unique and contemporary pieces.

For the One in a Million panel, high-profile entrepreneur,philanthropist and chairwoman of commerical services firm Atlal AlMajd, HRH Princess AlJoharah bint Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was joined by fashion entrepreneur and consultant Rae Joseph and Shahd Al Shehail, co-founder of ethical fashion brand Abadia. Together, they shared their insights and opinions on how rarity and exclusivity affect our perceptions of luxury.

The Hive Saudi event ended on a high with the uplifting Unveiling Creative Brilliance panel. This discussion celebrated the abundance of creative talent within the Middle East and shed light on the positive impact of the region’s diverse cultures. Nouf Al Moneef, interior architect and designer, was joined by Zeinab Abulsamh, general manager at MBC Studios, for the day’s final discussion.