Dolce&Gabbana Will Be Arriving To Diriyah In Saudi Arabia
The Italian luxury brand will open at Bujairi Terrace later in 2024
Diriyah is continuing to grow and build in Riyadh’s premier historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination ahead of Vision 2030. It just announced a new venture with esteemed Italian fashion maison Dolce&Gabbana. Announced this week, Diriyah Company and Dolce&Gabbana, through Saudi Arabia’s Almalki Group formed a strategic alliance that will bring the first ever luxury retail outlets to open in Diriyah’s prestigious Bujairi Terrace. When opened later in 2024, it will be Dolce&Gabbana’s largest branch in the Kingdom.
If you’ve not been to Bujairi Terrace, let me describe it to you. As you arrive into Diriyah, you know you’re entering someplace special. Jerry Inzerillo, Group Chief Executive Officer of Diriyah Company is calling Diriyah the Beverly Hills of Riyadh. The mudbrick buildings, done in the Najdi style, are most captivating, especially if you’ve never been to Saudi Arabia before. It’s exotic and breathtaking to say the least. As you enter Bujairi Terrace, you notice the array of restaurants and lights making the space intimate for evening dinners. It’s quite big, so the idea of Dolce&Gabbana arriving in the space makes it all the more exciting.
Bujairi Terrace is known for its eateries, not so much for shopping. But, the new Dolce&Gabbana store will be combined to have fashion, beverages, and food. Inside, shoppers will find jewelry from the brand, home products, and cosmetic products. There will also be an exclusive Abaya section showing Dolce&Gabbana’s cultural inclusivity for the region. The premium café, a first in the GCC region will also be present in the store. Dolce&Gabbana’s premium café in Portofino was so successful that they’re bringing it to Saudi Arabia.
"This is a tremendous milestone for both Diriyah and Dolce&Gabbana. The opening of this store represents the start of a strong partnership and is a testament to Diriyah's commitment to becoming a global gathering place,” says Inzerillo. “Saudi Arabia continues to make a global impact on the retail sector – and this announcement further highlights that impact as we welcome the largest D&G store in the region. Diriyah is a place where the rich tapestry of our culture and heritage intertwines with our rapidly growing infrastructure and development.”
This isn’t the first time that Dolce&Gabbana has had a strong presence in Saudi Arabia. In 2022 the brand held their Alta Moda fashion show in Al Ula, which was the first ever fashion show ever held in AlUla. “Saudi Arabia is an amazing place, rich in history, traditions, culture and wonderful landscapes,” said Stefano Gabbana at the time. “For us, every project is a challenge from which we always learn something new and interesting. We are designers, we design clothes, it is what we know, and being able to do it for all women and men respecting their customs and cultural traditions can only make us happy.”
This store is particularly meaningful because it will sit in the birthplace of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom was founded in Diriyah, and Dolce&Gabbana overlooking At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Diriyah, shows how the mixing of the ancient with sartorial know-how is a good compliment to the luxury retail and luxury food and beverage sectors.