In the heart of the Ashar Valley in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, rises something extraordinary: Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building.

From afar, it appears almost unreal – shimmering like a desert mirage, warping and dissolving into the rocky landscape. Up close, it reflects the sandstone cliffs and endless sky around it. Fittingly, Maraya means “mirror” in Arabic.

Architect Florian Boje of Gio Forma reportedly said that no structure could rival the raw beauty of the valley, so instead, he chose to honour it. Maraya would not compete with nature but reflect it. The result is both bold and humble, a striking architectural paradox. And, unsurprisingly, a social media phenomenon. Every time I passed by, it was surrounded by clusters of selfie-takers and content creators.

The night I dined at Maraya Social, Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton’s restaurant atop the building, the scene was buzzing. Inside, Riyadh Air was hosting a private event. The airline, which hasn’t yet launched its first flight (slated for late 2025), is already positioning itself as a game-changer. In the words of CEO Tony Douglas, this is “the Kingdom’s Emirates, the Kingdom’s Qatar Airways – but bigger and better.”

Read the full story here