COLABS Partners with Abdulmonem Al-Rashed Humanitarian Foundation to Expand Arts and Culture in Saudi Arabia

COLABS has entered into a strategic collaboration with the Abdulmonem Al-Rashed Humanitarian Foundation (AAHF) to expand and strengthen arts, culture, crafts, and heritage initiatives throughout Saudi Arabia.

This alliance introduces a formal, long-term framework for cooperation across creative production, cultural dialogue, research, and community outreach. Through its recently launched Creative Collective program in the Kingdom, COLABS will introduce a lineup of arts-focused initiatives. The first event, scheduled in the coming weeks, will be an exhibition spotlighting emerging talent from the MENAP region.

The partnership’s roadmap includes curated exhibitions, residencies for artists and artisans, commissioned works, educational offerings, publications, and international knowledge-sharing programs. These initiatives will contribute to COLABS’ broader mission of nurturing interconnected creative ecosystems.

Headquartered in Riyadh, COLABS operates as a regional workspace and community platform in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and creative industries. Through Creative Collective, the organization empowers both emerging and established artists via residencies, open calls, exhibitions, and public programming, while integrating commissioned artwork into professional and civic environments.

AAHF, based in Saudi Arabia, focuses on advancing human development, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting education and knowledge initiatives. Its Arts & Culture Program champions heritage conservation, creative learning, and community participation, including projects such as the Norah Al-Mousa House for Culture and Creative Arts and the Al-Ahsa Academy of Crafts.

Together, AAHF and COLABS aim to reinforce artistic networks, safeguard cultural traditions, and broaden public engagement in the arts across the region.

Omar Shah, CEO of COLABS, described the expansion into Saudi Arabia as a natural progression of the organization’s ecosystem-driven philosophy. He emphasized that creativity, culture, and entrepreneurship are deeply interconnected and noted that collaborating with AAHF enables locally rooted initiatives while encouraging meaningful cross-regional exchange.

Mr. Abdulmohsen Al-Sultan, CEO of the Foundation, highlighted that the partnership aligns with AAHF’s mission to support and empower creative talent. He underscored the role of art in connecting cultures and expressed optimism that the collaboration will create valuable opportunities for artists and contribute to enriching Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape in line with Vision 2030 objectives.

COLABS is preparing to launch its first Riyadh location in the Al Narjis district in the coming weeks. The purpose-built flagship campus will cater to startups and scaleups while also serving as a hub for entrepreneurship, arts, and cultural programming.

As part of the collaboration, COLABS will soon open applications through its Creative Collective platform, inviting artists, artisans, and cultural practitioners from across Saudi Arabia and the wider region to apply for residencies, commissions, exhibitions, and research-driven projects. Additional information and submission guidelines will be shared soon.

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