Our journey continues westward to the Arabian Gulf, where desert kingdoms and coastal medinas whisper the legacy of a civilisation that is long overshadowed, yet integral to the making of the modern world.

This year, the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah returns for its second edition, inviting us on a pilgrimage through faith’s many expressions — traversing time, space, and all that is in between.

At the inaugural edition of Art Week Riyadh, I find myself surrounded by works from both established artists and emerging talents across Saudi Arabia and the greater MENA region — each contributing to a collective endeavour to redefine and shape their identities.