Step into AlUla’s Old Town, where its winding alleys and sunbaked walls still hum with the footsteps of caravan traders, pilgrims, and settlers who once crossed path at this desert oasis.

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.