Saudi Arabia to Establish Riyadh University of Arts, Aiming for Global Leadership in Creative Education
Riyadh, The Gulf Observer: Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah announced on Monday that the Riyadh University of Arts will soon be inaugurated, marking a major step in advancing the Kingdom’s cultural and creative industries.
Speaking at the opening of the Cultural Investment Conference 2025 at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh, Prince Badr said the new institution aims to foster talent and creativity across cultural sectors, with the ambition of joining the world’s top 50 universities specializing in the creative arts.
The Riyadh University of Arts will be located in the Arqah district of the capital and will eventually consist of 13 colleges covering disciplines such as film, music, cultural management, visual arts, photography, culinary arts, and heritage studies. The first phase will begin with three colleges: the College of Theatre and Performing Arts, the College of Music, and the College of Film. The university will also establish international academic partnerships, while offering scholarships to nurture artistic talent. Full program details will be announced in early 2026.
Highlighting the transformation of the Kingdom’s cultural landscape under Vision 2030, Prince Badr said the sector has become a key driver of economic growth. “The cultural sector’s contribution to GDP has jumped to 1.6 percent, the number of people employed in the sector has reached 234,000, and the value of financial support flowing into the sector is expected to reach nearly $2 billion in 2024. Furthermore, infrastructure investments have exceeded SR81 billion,” he stated.
The minister underlined the critical role of private sector engagement in supporting cultural development. “With the rapid growth of the creative and cultural industries, the private sector plays a crucial and strategic role as a partner in the development of the Saudi cultural sector. This conference contributes to strengthening this vital partnership and will witness the signing of 89 agreements worth over SR5 billion,” Prince Badr said.
Held under the patronage of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the two-day conference features 38 panel discussions with more than 100 speakers, including Charles Stewart, CEO of Sotheby’s; Guillaume Cerutti, Chairman of Christie’s; Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel; and Tony Vinciquerra, Non-Executive Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
The conference is addressing future trends in cultural investment, the growth of creative industries, and strategies for sustainable cultural production at both national and international levels.
