Saudi Arabia to establish Riyadh University of Arts to boost creative economy

 

Saudi Arabia to establish arts university to specialise in different fields

Saudi Arabia has announced the establishment of the Riyadh University of Arts, the Kingdom’s first university dedicated exclusively to culture and the creative arts. The move is part of broader efforts to grow the cultural sector and diversify the economy under Vision 2030.

The announcement was made by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan during the Cultural Investment Conference 2025 in Riyadh. He described the university as a “cornerstone for creative learning and cultural innovation,” backed by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

 

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A new hub for cultural education

Located in Irqah, Riyadh, the university will initially launch with three core colleges:

• Music
• Film
• Theatre and Performing Arts

It will later expand to include 13 colleges, covering disciplines such as:

• Visual Arts
• Architecture
• Design
• Literature
• Heritage Studies
• Culinary Arts
• Fashion
• Cultural Management

Academic offerings will include short courses, diplomas, bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Full academic details will be revealed in early 2026.

The university aims to rank among the top 50 creative arts institutions globally and will collaborate with leading international schools to develop curricula, conduct joint research, and train faculty. Scholarships will also be available for promising students in the cultural and creative sectors.

By 2040, the institution is expected to graduate up to 30,000 students and train 1,500 educators.

Cultural sector on the rise

Prince Badr highlighted the growing importance of the cultural economy, which now contributes 1.6% to Saudi GDP, employs over 230,000 people, and has received nearly $2 billion in support this year. Infrastructure investments in the sector have already exceeded SAR 81 billion ($21.6 billion).

Looking ahead, the cultural economy is projected to grow by 7% annually over the next decade, creating more than 300,000 new jobs and adding over SAR 80 billion ($21.3 billion) to the economy by 2030. The Riyadh University of Arts is expected to serve as a central engine in this transformation.

 

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Global cultural dialogue

The two-day Cultural Investment Conference, held under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, features more than 100 international speakers, including:

• Charles Stewart, CEO of Sotheby’s
• Guillaume Cerutti, Chairman of Christie’s
• Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel

The conference focuses on cultural investment opportunities and the development of sustainable creative industries in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Source: Gulf News