From Milan and Spain to Doha .. A Global Journey Culminating in Ithra Design Week

Dhahran | BETH | B

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) continues to strengthen its international presence in the design sector through a series of global engagements spanning Italy, Spain, Jordan, and Qatar, leading up to the upcoming edition of Ithra Design Week, scheduled to take place from November 16–21, 2026.

The journey began at Milan Design Week through the exhibition “Beyond the Ordinary”, before continuing to the Concéntrico Festival, where Ithra presented “Bayn”, an immersive installation by Saudi architect Faris Alosaimi. The work draws inspiration from two architectural concepts deeply rooted in regional heritage: the courtyard and the tent, representing stability and movement within traditional architecture.

The journey also includes the Ithra Design Residency, developed in partnership with Amman Design Week, bringing together emerging designers from Saudi Arabia and Jordan in a collaborative creative experience before their work is showcased at Ithra Design Week.

Ithra will further expand its international engagement through participation in the Doha Design Exhibition in November, featuring specialized exhibitions, design workshops, and interactive pavilions aimed at fostering community engagement and creative exchange.

BETH Analysis

A few years ago, cultural institutions in the region were primarily focused on hosting international exhibitions and events.

Today, the picture is evolving.

Ithra is no longer merely importing global ideas and experiences; it is increasingly exporting local creative and design narratives to international platforms, while participating in the conversations shaping the future of design worldwide.

What stands out is that these engagements are not centered solely on showcasing products or individual works. Instead, they seek to present a design narrative rooted in local culture, environment, and identity, as reflected in the “Bayn” installation, which reinterprets traditional architectural concepts through a contemporary lens.

These initiatives also reflect a broader transformation in the role of cultural institutions—from organizing events to building international networks for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and creative collaboration.

As Ithra Design Week approaches, the event appears to be evolving beyond an annual gathering into a destination where the outcomes of a year-long journey across countries, cultures, and design experiences converge.

The question is no longer:

How can Saudi designers participate in the world?

But rather:

How can design emerging from the region become part of the global conversation about the future of creativity and culture?