Real Estate
Saudi Arabia's Long-Delayed Banking Hub Gets a Trendy Makeover
Pop-up cafes and live music reflect a kingdom that’s loosening up socially, and give the King Abdullah Financial District a chance at success
Photographer: Waseem Obaidi/Bloomberg
There might not be any banks yet in the King Abdullah Financial District, but on a sunny afternoon, the once-stalled development in Riyadh is packed with people.
Surrounded by unfinished skyscrapers, Mona Al Humaidi and Munira Al Shumaisi sipped iced coffee in an outdoor lounge, laughing and watching the crowds. "We lack open spaces in Saudi Arabia," 27-year-old Al Shumaisi said. "This kind of atmosphere’s very important for us."