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DUBAI: Set to run from Oct. 22 to 26, We Design Beirut is a products, interiors and furniture fair that bucks convention due to its staging in several of the capital’s key historical buildings.

While design fairs around the world usually stage showcases in one location, often a convention hall devoid of any real character, founder and CEO Mariana Wehbe and partner and creative director Samer Alameen were keen to highlight historic buildings in Beirut.

“There were spaces and places that have been forgotten ... whether the history, the archaeology, the stories they hold,” Wehbe said recently.

“So it’s more a story about Beirut and it’s more cultural than commercial,” Alameen added.

Exhibition locations include Villa Audi, Beirut’s Roman Baths, Burj El-Murr, an unfinished skyscraper turned war relic, and Abroyan Factory, an abandoned textile facility.

“This isn’t just a design week … this has become a way of talking about our country, protesting in our own (way),” Wehbe said, reflecting the desire to unite Lebanese communities after years of divisive politics.

“And you know, some people fight with weapons and some people fight with politics and some people fight with creativity and with bringing communities together in the hardest and most difficult times,” she added.

Comprised of exhibitions, excursions and workshops, the event seeks to shed light on both established and emerging designers, artisans and students from nine universities in Lebanon.

“We’re losing the artisans because it’s impossible to find an artisan under the age of 50,” Alameen explained.

“Because they’re no longer teaching their kids. They’re not making money, And this is the massive problem … That’s why we created the platform,” Alameen said.

The diverse exhibitions include “Totems of the Present & the Absent,” that features work by emerging and established designers from Lebanon and beyond, exploring presence, memory, and legacy.

Meanwhile, hosted in the Roman Baths, a marble design exhibition “Of Water and Stone” reinterprets the ancient site’s rituals of cleansing.

The student-led “Design in Conflict” exhibition sees young creatives explore how strife shapes spaces, while “Rising with Purpose” calls on Lebanese talents under 30 to create thoughtful, relevant objects that address societal, cultural, and environmental needs.

“There is an intensity in this country that drives you … so this grace, this buzz, this energy, and there’s a love for our country that is really, I think, is almost unique to Lebanon,” Alameen said.

AL-KHOBAR: You will know when you see it — that large, sandy-hued cluster of buildings, a stone’s throw from the Alkhobar Corniche, is the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Science and Technology Center.

Or, as it is better known, Scitech — a beacon of knowledge and creativity in the Eastern Province.

A quarter of a century after opening its doors, Scitech is open every day and remains a hub where science, storytelling, curiosity and culture come together by the sea.

The idea began in 2000 under a directive from the late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, who envisioned it as a public space that would bring science to life. In 2006, it came under the administration of the nearby King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, strengthening its educational foundation and research partnerships.

For many who grew up in the region, Scitech is more than a landmark — it is part of their childhood.

It covers more than 14,000 sq. meters, housing several exhibition halls with interactive displays, a state-of-the-art scientific dome and an astronomical observatory. It attracts students, families and tourists eager to explore science in motion.

In 2022, the center’s administration moved to the Sharqia Development Authority, reflecting its growing role in regional development and cultural outreach. This expanded its programming to include art, sustainability and heritage-focused initiatives, alongside traditional STEM offerings.

Most recently, Scitech hosted a multi-day immersive event in honor of The Year of Handicrafts, part of the Ministry of Culture’s nationwide celebration, which combined interactive exhibits with live craft demonstrations and hands-on activities.

The center is full of wonder; if you are planning a visit, call ahead to ensure the event you want to see is still on as online details are only updated occasionally.