Four Interiors Names To Know From The First Downtown Design Riyadh Fair

Fresh from the inaugural Downtown Design Riyadh fair, we spotlight some of the most exciting launches for 2025

This summer put Saudi front and centre of the design world with the debut of Downtown Design Riyadh in May. The vibrant four-day event at JAX District in Diriyah saw designers from the world over bring their expertise and passion to the Kingdom – an opportunity to celebrate both regional and international talent and connect global brands with Saudi’s creative community. The first fair was one to remember…

STUDIO OBLIQ

This GCC-born furniture company debuted its new concept titled 2 Rooms exclusively at Downtown Design Riyadh – showcasing a similar set of furniture pieces across two contrasting rooms, each finished in a completely different material palette. “2 Rooms is built around our most popular in-house designs, pieces that have become signature to our brand,” says Ziad Al-Haffar, partner at Studio Obliq. “We took these forms and reimagined them in richer, more elevated materials like marble, stainless steel and burl wood. It’s a nod to both our capabilities and a way to show how material alone can transform the feel of a space, without changing the form.”

KARIM+ELIAS

Founded by Karim Tamerji and Elias El Hage, for this year’s fair the duo translated natural terrains into evocative design, crafting sculptural pieces and spatial experiences that reinterpret fragments of Dubai and beyond. “For Strata, the story is tailored to celebrate the city of Diriyah’s craft of ‘earthen building’. It’s comprised of 60 modular triangular seats, each individually hand-sculpted from locally sourced desert sands. The geometry pays homage to the iconic motif of Diriyah’s Najdi architecture, the Furjat triangle, as well as the geoheritage and cultural craftsmanship of the city.”

IWAN MAKTABI

Built on three generations of rug-making collecting and expertise, Iwan Maktabi rolled out The Guardian Palms by Saudi artist Sumaya Shelbi – a sculptural textile work that blurs the line between art and design. “It’s part of the gifting line of Iwan Maktabi Gifts of Legacy. What makes it truly unique is the sculptural effect we were able to achieve by experimenting with never-used-before pile heights in wool and silk,” explains Mohamad Maktabi, founder of Iwan Maktabi. “The way the various pile heights and the change between wool and silk, creates light and shadow across the surface. It’s not just a carpet, it’s a wall-bound statement piece.”

NWII.III INTERIORS

Co-founded by engineer-designer Noura Suleiman, NWII.III Interiors is known for blending cultural awareness and Arabian heritage in its designs. For Downtown Design Riyadh, she debuted the Mezlaj furniture line. “The collection is inspired by Najdi heritage and my vision is for Mezlaj to travel the world, exporting Saudi culture through design and showing how our heritage can inspire innovative, contemporary pieces,” explains Suleiman. “I hope this is just the beginning for Mezlaj on the global stage.”

Lead Image: Mezlaj console by NWII.III Interiors

Images Supplied

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Interiors Summer 2025 Issue