Riyadh Season guide: Suwaidi Park, Boulevard World and the nights worth going to

Every autumn Riyadh turns into one giant festival. I've covered Riyadh Season from opening night to the last concert for several years now — here's where I'd spend my evenings, and how to get the most out of each zone.

Start with the zone schedule

Riyadh Season runs across multiple zones that open on different dates, so the first thing to do each year is check which zones are open when you're free. I break the schedule down in a reel at the start of every season — here's the 2025 zone guide.

Suwaidi Park: the community nights

For expat families, Suwaidi Park is the heart of the season. It hosts week-long celebrations for different communities, with parades, food stalls and live concerts — and the headline acts draw huge crowds.

• 2024: Suwaidi Park opened on 13 October 2024 (we held a follower meet-up on opening day). The line-up included Himesh Reshammiya, Asim Azhar and Young Stunners, and Pakistani Week started on 30 October 2024.
• 2025: Suwaidi Park kicked off on 2 November. Indian Week featured Kanika Kapoor, and Pakistani Week brought Abrar Ul Haq's first-ever performance in Saudi Arabia. I also met actress Kashika Kapoor during Indian Week — that reel passed 900K views.

Tip: concert nights fill up fast. Arrive early, check the official Riyadh Season app or channels for the week's schedule, and plan your exit — the crowds leave at the same time.

Boulevard World: a world tour in one evening

Boulevard World recreates countries from around the globe in one zone — architecture, food, performances and shopping. The 2025 edition added three new countries: Kuwait, South Korea and Indonesia. Go hungry; the food is half the point.

Souq Al Awaleen and Boulevard Runway

Two zones that opened in 2024 and are worth a visit if they're running: Souq Al Awaleen, which recreates the old style of Saudi markets and souqs, and Boulevard Runway, an aviation-themed zone that's a fun one for families.

Celebrity sightings

Riyadh Season and its partner events bring a steady stream of stars to the city. Over the last two seasons I've met Ali Zafar, Sajal Aly, Abrar Ul Haq and Kashika Kapoor — and those meet-up reels are some of the most-watched content on my channels.

Planning checklist

1. Check which zones are open on your dates.
2. Book tickets in advance for paid zones and headline concerts.
3. Go on weeknights if you can — weekends are packed.
4. Follow along on @zaidi_a — I post schedules and updates as each zone opens.