Cultural Events Celebrate Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day

The events recall the story of the Kingdom's founding by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)
The events recall the story of the Kingdom's founding by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)
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Cultural Events Celebrate Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day

The events recall the story of the Kingdom's founding by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)
The events recall the story of the Kingdom's founding by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727. (Saudi Ministry of Culture)

The Saudi Ministry of Culture inaugurated on Thursday several events to commemorate the Kingdom's Founding Day, including music concerts that celebrate Saudi Arabia and the early days of its founding.

The events recall the story of the Kingdom's founding by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727 and the heroics that helped build a stable and prosperous country on unified political foundations.

"Founding Nights", which concludes on Friday, features music and poetry that transport the audience on a journey through time to celebrate the Kingdom’s history. It brings together several poets and artists, who will sing popular songs that have resonated with the people for years.

The event was kicked off by artists Fuad Abelwahed and Abdullah al-Mana, who sang a number of national songs. The event also featured poetry readings by Saeed bin Mane and Fahad al-Shahrani.

The second night featured concerts by Majid al-Muhandis and Dalia Mubarak, who sang national songs that captivated the audience. It also included more poetry readings, featuring Suleiman al-Maneh and Abdullah Abyan.

The Ministry of Culture also opened an exhibit, "Path of History", that features several scenes and sculptures that reflect the values embodied in the founding.

The exhibit features 19 "scenes" that highlight significant events that have taken place since the founding in 1727 and until this day.

The Ministry is also organizing a musical concert, "The Symphony of the Beginning", which will be held on Sunday and Monday.

An orchestra will escort the audience on a journey through time to recount how Saudi Arabia was founded. Several celebrated Saudi poets and composers will take part in the event.



Saudi Visual Arts Commission to Inaugurate Art Week Riyadh

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo
The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo
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Saudi Visual Arts Commission to Inaugurate Art Week Riyadh

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo
The Saudi Visual Arts Commission logo

The Saudi Visual Arts Commission has unveiled the program and participants for the inaugural edition of Art Week Riyadh, to be held from April 6 to 13.

The week-long celebration of Saudi Arabia’s dynamic art scene will span several cultural venues—including the JAX District and Al Mousa Center—bringing together prominent local, regional, and international galleries, cultural institutions, artists, patrons, collectors, and art enthusiasts.
Held under the theme “At The Edge”, the first edition of Art Week Riyadh will explore the dynamic spirit of the capital, emphasizing its vibrant cultural landscape.
According to a statement issued by the Visual Arts Commission, Art Week Riyadh builds on the foundation of an active and evolving art community, cultivating a collaborative environment where visual arts can continue to thrive for generations. With programming designed to honor the past, celebrate the present, and envision the future, Art Week Riyadh will showcase the depth and breadth of the Kingdom’s artistic expression.
Headquartered in the JAX District, the flagship exhibition will feature more than 45 local, regional, and international galleries. Each will present curated works that explore the evolving cultural dialogues between Saudi Arabia, the wider MENA region, and the global contemporary art scene.
Curated around three thematic threads—Everyday Life, Landscapes, and Motifs—the exhibition highlights the intersections of tradition and innovation, local narratives and global influences, and heritage and future visions. It presents contemporary creativity as both a platform for cultural expression and a catalyst for dialogue, capturing how Saudi visual culture is simultaneously rooted in tradition and engaged with global artistic currents.
The statement added that contributions will come from some of the most distinguished galleries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
At the Al Mousa Center in central Riyadh, over 15 galleries will present specially curated solo and group exhibitions, featuring both pioneering and emerging artists from the region and beyond. Once a commercial complex, the Al Mousa Center is now a vibrant cultural destination housing around 20 art galleries.
The statement further disclosed that the JAX District will also host three exhibitions by invited collections under the title Collections in Dialogue. Presented in partnership with leading cultural institutions and private collections, these exhibitions highlight the vital role of patronage and collecting in shaping and preserving visual culture, offering both historical insight and contemporary significance.
Art Week Riyadh will also feature a series of high-profile talks and engaging workshops, addressing current themes and questions impacting the visual arts in Riyadh, throughout Saudi Arabia, and around the world.