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Photography | Courtesy of SPA DIRIYAH, May 3— The third edition of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, titled “In Interludes and Transitions,” closed on May 2, 2026, after bringing together 68 artists from more than 37 countries at JAX District near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif. Organised by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the exhibition featured more than 25 new commissions across 12,900 square meters of exhibition halls, courtyards and terraces, with scen

Photography | Courtesy of SPA RIYADH, May 3 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah offers visitors an overview of the history of the Holy Quran, its sciences and the development of its transcription through rare manuscripts and artifacts, state media reported. Among the exhibits is a copy of the Quran engraved on brass plates dating to the 12th century AH, or 18th century CE, reflecting the craftsmanship of Islamic arts an

RIYADH, April 30 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission said the 11th stop of its “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” world tour will be held in Rome in May and will feature Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The event will include performances by the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, as well as Saudi performing arts presented by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the commission said. The concert will feature Saudi, Italian and international works perfo

📷 | SPA RIYADH, April 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Art Basel Awards has named the Diriyah Biennale Foundation as a medalist in the Museum and Institution category in its 2026 cycle, recognizing the foundation as a "key platform for regional artistic development" and acknowledging its contribution to contemporary and Islamic arts globally. "The Diriyah Biennale Foundation has been committed to bringing together artists, communities, and ideas across geographies. This

SPA MAKKAH, April 18 — Makkah marked World Heritage Day on Friday by highlighting efforts to preserve its historical, cultural and architectural legacy. Authorities continue to support initiatives aimed at protecting both tangible and intangible heritage through restoration and rehabilitation programs, as well as cultural events and interactive exhibitions. The city is home to historic districts, sites linked to early Islamic history, and museums and cultural centers that hel

SPA TABUK, April 16 — A cultural evening was held in Tabuk to mark World Art Day, bringing together people interested in visual arts and culture in the region. The event, titled “The Alphabet of the Brush… When Color Becomes a Universal Language,” was organized by the Cultural Club in Tabuk, the literary partner of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission. Discussions during the evening focused on visual art as a tool of cultural expression and its role in docume

SPA RIYADH, April 15 - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture opened the first edition of the Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum in Riyadh on Wednesday with a session focused on culture as a form of soft power and the role of the nonprofit sector in shaping the future, state news agency SPA reported. The opening session, held at the King Fahd Cultural Centre under the title "Culture as Soft Power: Redefining the Role of the Nonprofit Sector in Shaping the Future," featured Prince Tu

SPA RIYADH/KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 - Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan met Malaysia's Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Tiong King Sing in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday to discuss bilateral cultural relations and ways to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors, state news agency SPA reported. At the start of the meeting, Prince Badr said Saudi Arabia valued its longstanding and fraternal ties with Malaysia and described culture as a key bridge f

SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Culture Minister Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan visited the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday, accompanied by Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon. The museum, located in central Jakarta and supervised by the Indonesian Heritage Agency, is one of the country’s leading cultural institutions and is regarded as an archaeological, historical, anthropological and geographical museum. Established in 18

The museum has launched an open call for the sixth edition of Art Here 2026, inviting artists from the GCC and India to submit proposals under the theme “Confluences.” WAM Louvre Abu Dhabi has announced an open call for proposals for the sixth edition of its flagship contemporary art initiative, Art Here 2026, and the Richard Mille Art Prize, with submissions open until 31 May 2026 through the museum’s website. The 2026 edition expands to India alongside the GCC, reflecting t

SPA MAKKAH, April 6 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - The Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District is showcasing a rare copy of the Holy Quran dating back to the 19th century, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The manuscript reflects the reverence historically shown by Muslims toward the Holy Quran as well as the care devoted to its artistic and decorative presentation. The copy is adorned with intricate decorations, gilding and floral motifs across its opening, middle

ASSEN, Netherlands, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A 2,500-year-old golden helmet and two other ancient Romanian treasures stolen from a museum in the Netherlands were recovered after suspects in custody provided information that led investigators to them, Dutch prosecutors said on Thursday. The artefacts, linked to Geto-Dacian communities, were presented at a press conference at the Drents Museum in the northern Dutch city of Assen, where they had been on loan

SPA MAKKAH, March 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – A rare Quran manuscript preserved in Saudi Arabia is drawing attention in Makkah after the Holy Quran Museum in the Hira Cultural District highlighted a copy written in the form of a ship, an example of historic Islamic manuscript design and calligraphic innovation. The piece is believed to date to the 11th century CE, or the 5th century AH, placing it among early surviving works that illustrate how Quranic manuscripts

SPA ALULA, March 27, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Hegra in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to rock-cut Nabataean tombs dating back to the first century A.D. and now also highlights the story of Hina bint Wahb, whose face has been reconstructed using modern techniques. According to the Royal Commission for AlUla, the archaeological site contains around 141 rock-cut tombs, 93 of them with carved façades decorated with geometric motifs and

SPA Madinah, March 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The qibla wall of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah represents one of the mosque’s prominent architectural elements, reflecting the artistic precision and aesthetic traditions of Islamic architecture. The wall features intricate vegetal ornamentation that decorates its surfaces, forming a unified decorative composition that highlights the craftsmanship and design traditions developed throughout the mosque’s historical expansi

SPA Riyadh, March 11, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — King Abdulaziz Road remains one of the most prominent architectural and cultural landmarks in Jeddah, reflecting the city’s historic evolution and long-standing connection to maritime trade. Located in the heart of historic Jeddah, the road has for decades served as a major commercial and social artery linking traditional markets with the seaport. Historic buildings line both sides of the street, showcasing the distinc

SPA RIYADH, March 6, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah has undergone a series of major expansions during the Saudi era aimed at facilitating the movement of worshippers and visitors while preserving its Islamic architectural character. The first Saudi expansion began in 1952 (1372 AH) and continued until 1955 (1375 AH), adding about 16,326 square meters to the mosque and increasing its capacity to nearly 28,000 worshippers. A second expansion

SPA Riyadh, March 5, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – An open-air exhibition featuring works from the Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium is welcoming visitors in Riyadh during Ramadan, offering a public art experience along Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street. The exhibition is one of the outcomes of the seventh edition of the Tuwaiq International Sculpture Symposium, part of the Riyadh Art Program supervised by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. The display incl

SPA Madinah, March 5, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The lighting system at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah includes 138,650 units designed to enhance the site’s architecture and support a tranquil atmosphere for worshippers, according to information released by the authority overseeing the mosque. The network includes 297 chandeliers and 8,219 column-mounted units to provide visibility across corridors. It also includes 10,546 units engraved with the name of Allah, amon

Riyadh, March 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques is rehabilitating Al-Hawza Mosque in Dhahran Al-Janoub in Aseer as part of efforts to preserve Islamic heritage under Vision 2030. The mosque was built in 8 AH by Ali ibn Abi Talib during a trip to Yemen to spread Islam, according to the information provided. It is among the oldest mosques in the region and underwent expansions in 1213 AH and 1