Saudi Arabia set to transform desert into outdoor art installation playground

The ancient remains of Qasr al-Farid – a rock-cut tomb and part of an ancient Nabatean settlement – stands amidst imposing cliffs and striking rocky outcrops at Al Ula, Madain Saleh (aka Hegra). It is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Photo: AFP

After launching in the Coachella Valley in 2017, the Californian site-specific art event Desert X is now expanding with its first-ever edition in the Al Ula region of northwestern Saudi Arabia.

The upcoming exhibition, co-curated by Desert X artistic director Neville Wakefield and Saudi curators Raneem Farsi and Aya Alireza, will feature 14 large-scale artworks installed amidst ancient rock formations in the Saudi Arabian desert.