The fifth World Luxury Expo has been successfully hosted at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh. The highly anticipated three day event was title sponsored by American Express and held in association with The Saudi Investment Bank.

On the first day of the event, HRH Prince Khalid bin Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Alfaisal was assisted by young Shaekha Al Saleh in officially inaugurating the American Express World Luxury Expo in association with The Saudi Investment Bank to an audience of VIP guests and other dignitaries. To set the tone, on arrival invited guests were welcomed to a grand display of a Rolls-Royce Phantom 2014, valued at USD$ 570,000.

The exhibition showcased selected luxury brands and services, from a broad selection of luxury categories, appealing to a highly discerning and select group of VIP guests. For the admirers of oriental perfumes, Saad Bashammakh presented oud fragrances made of the rarest Agarwood; the oud on display at the Expo was valued at USD$ 267,000 per kilogram.

Another highlight was a 19-carat highest quality, fancy diamond with emerald cut pendant worth USD$1.89 million, showcased by Yessayan Diamonds.

The “Porta” key – an article of everyday use – was transformed into a piece of jewellery with an individual and sophisticated design, making it a valuable item that reflects the personality of its owner. The most luxurious and expensive, limited edition jewelled keys made from gold, platinum and studded with diamonds, had been flown in especially from Germany for the Expo. Showcased by “Porta”, the keys were individually crafted by CES, a German manufacturer with a rich heritage dating back to 1840. Only 99 pieces of this special range of keys have been crafted.

Nizar Abou Hassan, director premium products Management, American Express Saudi Arabia Limited, said: “Our promise to deliver service excellence and world class experiences are showcased in our renewed commitment to supporting the World Luxury Expo in 2014. The dedicated Cardmember’s access lane along with the American Express Salon Prive’ offered new and exclusive experiences to our Cardmembers and guests.”

As part of their unique experiences offering, American Express cardmembers were invited to test drive the latest Ferrari on the streets of Riyadh alongside a Formula 1 instructor.

World Luxury Expo features carefully selected exhibitors from luxury categories including fine art, high-end jewellery, fashion, hand-crafted time pieces, designer furniture and exquisite table settings, fine dining, luxury executive cars and sports cars and luxury travel. All participating exhibitors are recognised within their respective fields, showcasing superior quality and craftsmanship.

Samer R. Al Rayyan, assistant general manager , personal banking at The Saudi Investment Bank, added: “We are again proud to be associated with AMEX World Luxury Expo. Our sponsorship yet again demonstrates our commitment to delivering world class banking services and products designed to cater to the affluent lifestyle of the our valued platinum and premium clientele and invited guests who attended the event.”

A selection of other luxury goods and services which invited guests enjoyed viewing at World Luxury Expo included Ajmal Perfumes, Al Faisaliah ladies spa, Al Mashreq Boutique Hotel, organic premium skincare range by Alternatifs, Arabic artworks by Art Al Howaymel, collectors pieces by Asag Art, Audio Video Corner, luxury accessories by BB Luxury, BMW, Casa D’ Argento Furniture, Citrus Art collection from the Far East, Evian, Golden Caviar, Fiat “Gucci”, Fitness Time Plus, GRE Assets, Kingdom Key Real Estate, Mercedes-Benz, the finest jewellery by Mouawad, Nayyara Weddings, Sadawi Home, Sea Pros, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Viper sports car, UBS and Zahid Travel.

Ritz Carlton, Riyadh
Designed by Al Rasheed Engineering Company and constructed by Oger International, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh boasts spectacular fountains that front the one kilometre driveway. Originally envisioned as a royal guest palace for visiting dignitaries and heads of state, the hotel’s stately architecture is modelled on traditional palaces and elegant Arabian residences, with ochre facades blending gracefully with the verdant landscape of the gardens.

Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company explained: “We are extremely proud that The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh represents our first hotel into the Kingdom. We have been aggressively seeking the right first location in Saudi Arabia for a number of years, and believe there could be no better place for a Ritz-Carlton than in this.”
Native palms, 600-year old olive trees from Lebanon, and water fountains abound on the property, providing an oasis of serenity amidst the city centre.

“Having such an impressive presence in Riyadh is part of our ongoing strategy to develop world class hotels in cities where the demand for luxury lodging is high,” concluded Humler.

More Information
For more information visit www.ritzcarlton.com/riyadh.