SOIL: Riyadh’s New Ground for Creative Innovation
From Diriyah, a design-led lab network powering Saudi Arabia’s creative economy.
Saudi Arabia’s creative economy is entering a build phase—one that needs places where artists, designers, technologists, and founders can meet, learn, and make. SOIL is that place: a design-led ecosystem of innovation labs and creative hubs launching from Diriyah, Riyadh, built to turn bold ideas into real outcomes.
What is SOIL?
SOIL designs, builds, and operates fully equipped innovation labs and creative hubs. It connects makers and designers with entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers—creating a practical bridge between culture and technology. In short: where art meets tech, culture sparks change, and ideas come to life.
The Founder: Turki Fageera
Why it matters (now)
- Capability building: clear paths from inspiration to execution.
- Market outcomes: prototyping, testing, and scaling creative products and services.
- Ecosystem density: a single venue where talent, capital, and mentors collide.
- Vision 2030 alignment: nurturing the next generation of creative-economy pioneers.
Inside the SOIL Experience
1) Learn & Immerse
Masterclasses, talks, deep-dive bootcamps, and fireside chats with industry leaders—structured learning that feeds curiosity and raises the bar.
2) Community & Exchange
Mixers, community nights, matchmaking sessions, and open dialogues—designed to create meaningful relationships and spark collaboration.
3) Make & Prototype
Hands-on workshops, jams, hackathons, and design sprints—turning ideas into tangible prototypes that can be tested in the real world.
Who it’s for
- Artists & Designers seeking production support and collaborative teams
- Startups & Creators building products at the intersection of culture and tech
- Students & Educators looking for immersive, project-based learning
- Institutions & Investors interested in pipeline, partnerships, and impact
Why Diriyah?
Diriyah is where Saudi heritage meets its creative future. Launching from the Kingdom’s cultural heart signals SOIL’s intent: honor the roots, cultivate new growth, and export Saudi creativity to the world.
What success looks like
- A steady cadence of programs and showcases
- Prototypes graduating into ventures, products, or public installations
- Cross-disciplinary collaborations that strengthen Saudi Arabia’s global creative standing
- A community that learns together, builds together, and ships together
How to engage
Follow SOIL’s channels for program drops, opening dates, and application windows. Bring your sketchbook, your Figma file, your camera, your code, and build with the community.