Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 to Feature Vivienne Westwood & Stella McCartney

Riyadh Fashion Week 2025: British designers to headline

The upcoming Riyadh Fashion Week 2025 will spotlight British fashion icons Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney, who are set to open and close the event respectively. This edition aims to fuse global fashion prestige with local creative culture and highlight the Kingdom’s evolving role in the international fashion circuit.

Westwood’s signature punk aesthetic will juxtapose with Saudi cultural motifs, while McCartney will present sustainable fashion pieces reflecting her global brand ethos. Organizers say the event will draw regional designers, fashion influencers, and media, amplifying Saudi Arabia’s cultural diplomacy.

Anchored by a push to diversify the entertainment sector, this move aligns with the broader strategy of leveraging arts and culture for soft power projection. The collaboration also suggests increasing openness to global creative influences, while preserving local identity.

References & Source
Riyadh Fashion Week 2025: Stella McCartney & Vivienne Westwood to headline — Times of India
Link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/saudi-pro-league-foreign-company-buys-stake-in-al-kholood-club-a-first-in-the-kingdom/articleshow/122886018.cms 

Saudi Coach Renard Labels Iraq Match ‘Most Important of My Career

Saudi coach Renard labels Iraq game most important of his career

Hervé Renard, manager of the Saudi Arabia national football team, declared his upcoming fixture against Iraq as “the most important match of his career.” The match, part of the 2026 World Cup qualifying process, took place in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia holds a slim lead over Iraq on goal difference in Group B of the Asian qualifiers.

Renard cited the leadership of senior players like Salem Al-Dawsari, Saleh Al-Shehri, and Hassan Al-Tambakthi as integral to maintaining stability in high-pressure environments. Iraq’s coach, Graham Arnold, acknowledged the challenge, noting Saudi Arabia’s consistency in recent fixtures.

The coach’s remarks reflect the national expectation surrounding Saudi Arabia’s qualification campaign. With regional ambitions in sports, such statements also serve to galvanize public support and set the narrative ahead of critical matches.

References & Source
Reuters — “Saudi coach Renard labels Iraq game most important of his career.”
Link: https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/saudi-coach-renard-labels-iraq-game-most-important-his-career-2025-10-13/

Saudia Launches First Direct Riyadh–Moscow Flight Amid Warming Ties

 First direct Riyadh–Moscow flight operated by Saudia lands in Russian capital

The Saudi airline Saudia made history this week with the inaugural direct Riyadh–Moscow flight landing at Sheremetyevo International Airport, marking a key milestone in Saudi-Russia relations.
This new route will operate three round-trip flights weekly, signaling Riyadh’s intent to deepen diplomatic, commercial, and cultural ties with Moscow. The announcement comes amid growing coordination between the two nations in energy policy and bilateral exchange.

Saudi authorities said this connection would expand tourism and trade flows. In recent months, diplomatic outreach between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Vladimir Putin has intensified, including coordinated efforts in mediating regional conflicts and joint OPEC+ strategies. The route is expected to boost passenger volumes and strengthen economic interlinkages.

Observers see this as part of a broader Saudi external engagement strategy—balancing relationships between Western capitals and influential global actors. The direct flight adds to Riyadh’s ambition of becoming a logistics and transportation hub under its Vision 2030 blueprint.

References & Source
Reuters — “First direct Riyadh–Moscow flight operated by Saudia lands in Russian capital.”
Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/first-direct-riyadhmoscow-flight-operated-by-saudia-lands-russian-capital-amid-2025-10-10/