RIYADH: This season, one of Riyadh’s busiest streets has taken on an unexpected role.
Under the theme “Traces of What Will Be,”sculptors are carving granite and shaping reclaimed metal at the seventh Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, running from Jan. 10 to Feb. 22.
The symposium is unfolding along Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Road, known locally as Al‑Tahlia, a name that translates to desalination. The choice of location is deliberate.
The area is historically linked to Riyadh’s early desalination infrastructure, a turning point that helped to shift the city from water scarcity toward long‑term urban growth.
Twenty‑five artists from 18 countries are participating in this year’s event, producing large‑scale works in an open‑air setting embedded within the city.






