Project overview
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Project type: 120-key luxury boutique hotel
Architect: Regional architecture studio
Lighting designer: International lighting design consultancy
Yakeen scope: Specification-grade interior and exterior architectural lighting fixtures
Certification: SASO IECEE, G-Mark, energy efficiency registered
This 120-key boutique hotel in central Riyadh was designed to offer a distinctive alternative to the large international hotel chains. The design concept emphasized intimacy, material quality, and a sense of place — drawing on local architectural traditions while providing contemporary luxury.
The lighting design was a critical element of the concept. The lighting designer specified very particular light quality, beam distributions, and dimming performance. Finding products that met both the specification and the Saudi certification requirements was the challenge.
The specification challenge
The project had several requirements that made off-the-shelf products unsuitable:
- Optical precision. The lighting designer specified specific beam angles, spill light characteristics, and glare levels that generic products could not meet. Multiple beam distributions were needed — from very narrow accent to wide wall wash.
- Color quality. CRI 90 minimum, R9 > 50, 3-step MacAdam ellipse color consistency. This is well above what standard commercial products offer.
- Dimming performance. Smooth, flicker-free dimming down to 0.1% with DALI control. Standard DALI drivers typically dim to only 5-10%.
- Saudi certification. All fixtures required SASO IECEE and G-Mark certification. Many high-quality international brands are not certified for the Saudi market.
- Custom finishes. The architect specified custom matte white and bronze finishes to match the interior palette. Standard black or white finishes would not work.
- Timeline. The project was on a fast-track schedule. Standard lead times for custom specification-grade products would have delayed the opening.
The initial fixture schedule included several international premium brands. When the project team discovered that none of the specified products had Saudi certification, they needed an alternative that could meet the specification without compromising quality.
Our engineering approach
Our team was brought in during the design development phase to assess whether our products could meet the specification and, where they could not exactly match, whether we could engineer solutions that did.
Our process:
- Specification review. We went through the entire fixture schedule line by line, comparing each specified product against our catalog and capabilities.
- Photometric matching. Where our standard products did not match the specified beam distributions exactly, our optical engineers designed custom lenses and reflectors to match the required distributions.
- Color specification. We confirmed our 90+ CRI, R9 > 50, 3-step binning LEDs could meet the color specification — and provided sample data.
- Dimming optimization. We worked with our driver supplier to optimize the DALI dimming curve for ultra-low level dimming, achieving smooth dimming down to 0.1% without flicker.
- Finish matching. Our finishing department developed custom powder coat colors matched to the architect's samples.
- Certification confirmation. We confirmed that all proposed products — including the custom variants — were covered by our SASO IECEE and G-Mark certifications.
Within three weeks, we had provided a complete alternative schedule with photometric data, color samples, finish samples, and certification documentation — giving the design team confidence that the specification could be met with a certified alternative.
Key spaces and solutions
Guest rooms
The 120 guest rooms required a multi-layer lighting scheme: cove lighting for ambient, bedside reading lights, vanity lighting, wardrobe lighting, and a night light scenario. We provided:
- Linear LED cove fixtures with 2700K, CRI 90+, 3-step binning
- Adjustable reading spotlights with 15° narrow beam and glare control
- IP44-rated linear vanity lights with side-mounted diffusers (for flattering face lighting)
- LED strip lighting for wardrobe interiors, with motion sensor activation
- All fixtures DALI dimmable, integrated with the guest room management system
Lobby and reception
The double-height lobby required careful balancing of ambient, accent, and feature lighting. We provided:
- Recessed downlights with wide beam distribution and low glare for general ambient
- Narrow-beam adjustable spotlights for artwork and feature walls
- Wall grazers for the feature stone wall behind reception
- Linear slot diffusers for ceiling cove lighting
- All fixtures in custom matte white to match the ceiling
Restaurant
The all-day dining restaurant needed flexible lighting that could transition from bright breakfast to intimate dinner. We provided:
- Pendant fixtures with diffused warm 2700K light over tables
- Wall sconces at low level for ambient warmth
- Accent spotlights for artwork and feature elements
- Multiple scene settings via the DALI control system
Exterior and landscape
The building exterior and landscape needed to feel welcoming and impressive without being over-lit. We provided:
- Inground uplights for facade columns and landscaping
- Wall washers for the main entrance facade
- Path lights for walkways and landscape features
- All exterior fixtures IP66 rated for Riyadh's dust and heat
DIALux verification and mockup
Before production, our engineering team built complete DIALux models for all key spaces. This allowed the lighting designer to verify light levels, uniformity, and glare before any fixtures were manufactured.
We also supported an on-site mockup — a full-size mockup of a guest room and a section of the lobby, installed in a warehouse so the design team could see and evaluate the actual fixtures, finishes, and light quality in person.
The mockup resulted in several refinements:
- Adjustment of the bedside reading light beam angle from 25° to 15° for more focused light
- Color temperature adjustment of cove lighting from 3000K to 2700K for warmer ambiance
- Refinement of the custom finish color after comparison with material samples
Making these changes during the mockup phase saved weeks of rework and ensured that when production fixtures arrived on site, they were correct the first time.
Results and lessons
The hotel opened on schedule and has received positive reviews for its lighting quality. The general manager specifically noted that guests frequently comment on how comfortable and well-lit the rooms feel — the highest compliment for a lighting design.
Key lessons from the project:
- Certification must be checked early. Discovering at tender stage that specified products lack local certification causes delays and compromises. Verify certification during design, not during procurement.
- Mockups are essential. No amount of calculation replaces seeing actual fixtures in actual conditions. The mockup caught issues that calculations could not have predicted.
- Engineering capability matters more than catalog. A supplier with engineering capability can match or exceed the specification through custom optics, finishes, and tuning — without sacrificing quality or certification.
- Local support changes the process. Having an engineering team based in the region means faster response, better communication, and on-site support during installation and commissioning.
This project demonstrated that specification-grade architectural lighting — with all the quality, precision, and certification that implies — is available in the Saudi market. You do not have to choose between quality and compliance.