Salone del Mobile.Milano to Debut “Red in Progress” Preview in Riyadh Ahead of 2026 Launch
- Miami Living Team
- Oct 7, 2025
- 2 min read
Salone del Mobile.Milano, the world’s leading design and furniture fair, will make its debut in Saudi Arabia with “Red in Progress. Salone del Mobile.Milano meets Riyadh,” a three-day preview event running November 26–28, 2025 at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD).
King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh ©JohnnyGreig/Getty Images
The event is a strategic collaboration between the Salone del Mobile.Milano and the Architecture and Design Commission of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, marking a key milestone in preparation for the first full edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano in the Kingdom in 2026.
Announced by Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission, and Maria Porro, President of Salone del Mobile.Milano, during the Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh, the initiative aims to strengthen ties between Italian and Saudi design industries while advancing sustainable innovation and professional collaboration in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
“After our activations in New York, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Osaka, we are proud to bring the Salone to Riyadh,” said Porro. “Saudi Arabia is a natural hub for design with tremendous growth potential. This partnership allows us to turn that potential into tangible projects, lasting relationships and value across the entire supply chain.”
Red in progress. Salone del Mobile.Milano meets Riyadh Installation renderings ©Studio Giò Forma Salone del Mobile.Milano
Dr. Al-Solaiman added that the event “will strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position on the global design stage, fostering collaboration between Saudi and international designers and advancing the Kingdom’s creative industries.”
The “Red in Progress” initiative will transform KAFD’s public spaces under the Salone’s signature red banner, featuring furniture, lighting, and design pieces from more than 35 Italian companies known for craftsmanship and sustainability. A large-scale installation by Giò Forma architecture studio will serve as the event’s centerpiece, turning scaffolding structures draped in semi-transparent red fabric into a cultural stage symbolizing creativity and transformation.
Complementing the exhibition will be a business and cultural program curated by Annalisa Rosso, with masterclasses, roundtables, and networking sessions connecting Italian brands with Saudi architects, developers, and design professionals. The Business Lounge, designed by Lissoni & Partners, will host curated B2B meetings and presentations, supported by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI).
According to Matteo Zoppas, President of ITA, “This collaboration supports the internationalization of Italian design companies and strengthens commercial partnerships with Saudi Arabia—a key market for Made in Italy exports.”
The preview event will set the stage for the 2026 Salone del Mobile.Milano Riyadh, which will expand into a full-scale design fair.
Cultural Investment Conference, King Fahd Cultural Center, Riyadh From the left: Maria Porro, President Salone del Mobile.Milano Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission. Top image/Group photo
Event Details
What: Red in Progress. Salone del Mobile.Milano meets Riyadh
When: November 26–28, 2025
Where: King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh
Admission: Free with registration
For more information and updates, visit www.salonemilano.it.