World-Renowned Publisher Assouline Opens Maison Assouline in Diriyah

Diriyah doesn’t just whisper the past - it immerses you in it. The birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, once a stronghold of mud brick fortresses and palm-lined courtyards, now stands as the epicentre of a cultural renaissance.

Every corner feels deliberate, and every detail is a nod to Saudi heritage. Here, history is curated, elevated, and framed for the future. With its meticulous restoration, Diriyah has been reawakened.

At its heart, Bujairi Terrace unfolds like an architectural love letter to Najdi design. By day, the ochre-hued facades play with the desert light, casting cinematic shadows. By night, the district transforms as visitors fill courtyards overlooking At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where past and present blur seamlessly, where a city that once shaped the Arabian Peninsula is now shaping its cultural future.

If Diriyah tells a story, Assouline is the house that binds it. Known for its collectible volumes that blend art, travel, and history, the publishing maison has long documented Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage.

But here, in Diriyah, the narrative is deeply personal. Diriyah Doors, Assouline’s latest homage to the city, is a portal into the soul of a place. Page after page, it captures the art and history of Diriyah’s hand-carved wooden doors, each one a relic of time, embossed with patterns that once guarded lives within. Alongside At-Turaif, an earlier Assouline title, these books serve as visual time capsules, encapsulating a city that has never truly stood still.

These books, like all of Assouline’s world-renowned coffee table books, deserve a stage - a space to be experienced rather than just read. Enter Maison Assouline, now in Bujairi Terrace. More than a boutique, it’s a cultural salon, where the scent of leather-bound volumes mingles with the aroma of espresso from the in-house cafe.