March 13 2025

For its annual fourth edition, the SINDBAD Collective presented SINDBAD: On the Road!, a mobile exhibition concept that journeyed across the Gulf from west to east, engaging with local communities and gathering art and research along the way.

Through a custom extension to their vehicle, the collective transformed the road into an exhibition space—exhibiting, collecting, and connecting with diverse artistic ecologies across the Kingdom and beyond. Since its founding, SINDBAD had sought to build an alternative platform in the Gulf, making art accessible, egalitarian, and unorthodox.

At each stop of the tour, SINDBAD: On the Road! hosted guerrilla-style pop-ups and activations: car meets, open mics, record stores, and collaborations with formal art and gallery spaces. Partners included Lamaat and Beast House in Riyadh’s JAX District, Bohemia in Khobar, Riwaq Art Space in Bahrain, and Naqsh Art Studio in Jeddah.

The journey concluded in AlUla with a book launch and Ramadan Iftar at The N.E.S.T. on March 13th. The evening was joined by Ahad Al Amoudi and Dr. Effat Fadag from SINDBAD, together with artists and community members. The publication encapsulated the collective’s travels and shared the unique experiences and voices that shaped this edition of SINDBAD: On the Road!.