The Saudi Arabian capital’s rapid transformation shows no signs of slowing down. This time the Saudi Fashion Commission is playing a key role in enhancing Riyadh’s global appeal, as a part of its broader mission to drive investments and partnerships to grow the oil-rich nation’s fashion sector.
On Wednesday, the commission said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Four Directions Real Estate Development Company for the construction of a new fashion district.
“Fashion district is not simply an urban development project. It is an integrated ecosystem that supports the fashion value chain, opens new opportunities for creativity and investment, and reinforces Riyadh’s position as a global hub for the creative economy,” said Saudi Fashion Commission chief executive officer Burak Cakmak.
The commission said the deal was signed on the sidelines of the fifth edition of the Real Estate Future Forum.
Burak Cakmak
Courtesy Photo
Charting New Paths for Growth
The district will include fashion show venues, design and creative production studios, brand incubators, as well as hospitality facilities and workspaces. The project is intended to attract investment and align with the local and international growth of the fashion sector, the commission said in a statement. Riyadh’s famed skyscraper, Kingdom Centre Tower, which was completed in 2002, is currently a local hub for fashion and luxury shopping.
Mohammed Al-Zaraa, CEO of Four Directions Real Estate Development Company, praised the commission’s efforts to foster growth in Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.
“The MoU [memorandum of understanding] with the Fashion Commission stems from our belief in transforming culture into a sustainable industry and delivering landmark projects that support the creative economy, while elevating Riyadh’s status as a global city for culture and innovation,” he said.
The exact location for the fashion district has not yet been formally confirmed, though the commission said it could potentially be near King Saud University. The project has tentatively been scheduled for completion around 2028, though this date is subject to change.
The Saudi Fashion Commission’s 2025 report sees the value of the Saudi Arabian fashion industry at $32 billion in 2025. That number is projected to reach around $40 billion by 2029.
In Saudi Arabia, There Is Still Room for Growth
For major retailers like the Middle East’s The Chalhoub Group, Saudi Arabia is still an untapped market for retail and e-commerce. Its CEO Michael Chalhoub told WWD in October the firm was in the midst of readying a new distribution center in Riyadh to satiate the growing country’s appetite for luxury goods, driven by the digital exposure of its younger generations.
Riyadh has become an epicenter for apparel-related activity in recent years, with the third edition of Riyadh Fashion Week taking place last October, when WWD inaugurated its first Global Fashion & Beauty Summit in partnership with Fashion Futures, reflecting the growing power of Saudi Arabia in the context of the global fashion industry.
Fashion’s Part in Vision 2030
Overall, the Fashion Commission’s efforts are part of the government’s larger plan, dubbed Vision 2030, which is meant to diversify the oil-dependent nation’s economy and nurture new industries and increase non-oil exports and the private sector’s contribution to GDP to 65 percent. Since the first fashion week in Saudi Arabia’s history took place in 2018 in Riyadh, important strides have been taken to boost the nation’s fashion arena.
In an attempt to propel business on a global stage, two dedicated showrooms aimed at raising the country’s fashion profile on the international stage were opened in Paris in 2023. The ready-to-wear and couture showrooms are part of Saudi 100 Brands, an initiative by the Saudi Fashion Commission to promote local talent both domestically and internationally.
International Cooperation
Earlier this month, the commission revealed it has teamed up with the consortium of global retail leaders, RLC Global forum, for a series of initiatives that will take place in tandem with the RLC Global Forum’s sixth annual convening on Feb. 3 and 4. The event is expected to serve as an attraction for leaders across fashion, retail, investment and policy.
The nation is also becoming a hot spot for design. In May, Downtown Design Dubai, the Middle East‘s leading contemporary design fair since 2012, cut the ribbon on Downtown Design Riyadh, becoming Saudi Arabia’s first design trade show. The four-day fair at the JAX District brought the potential of local talent to the fore. The fair also featured well-known international brands like Venetian glassmaker Venini, French crystal firm Saint-Louis and luxury furniture-maker Natuzzi. Italian trade show Salone del Mobile.Milano hosted its first event in Riyadh in November, with plans to roll out a larger event there later this year.
