In 2023, we were bought in by leading Saudi hospitality operator Cool Inc to oversee the project management and operational planning for SASS' AlUla, the internationally renowned Monaco-based restaurant brand. Having spent the previous two seasons designing and delivering restaurant residencies in the region, we arrived with both the contextual understanding and the supplier network to steward the brand's arrival in AlUla with confidence.

The concept centred around a lush open-air oasis, reimagined as a theatrical dining space beneath the desert sky. Designed by Tina Green from Green & Mingarelli Design, the restaurant was flanked by towering palm trees that softened the landscape and framed the experience. Beneath a canopy of vintage chandeliers suspended from an architectural overhead structure, the space unfolded in layers of rich black velvet upholstery, deep crimson accents and golden animal ornaments, direct nods to the Monegasque brand's bold and opulent identity.

Guests were immersed in an atmosphere that balanced glamour with desert romance. A signature set menu, prepared over open fire, celebrated elevated Mediterranean flavours while adding a visceral, sensory element to the evening. As the night progressed, the restaurant shifted into something more alive, live DJ sets energising the space, encouraging guests to linger, dine and dance until late.

The project was delivered across two consecutive seasons in 2023 and 2024, each spanning a three-month residency. The request for it to come back for a second season, said everything about the reception of the first.