About

Culture in the Basic Law of Government in the Kingdom issued by Royal Decree No. (A / 90) and dated 27/8/1412 H corresponding to 1992.

Chapter Five: Rights and Duties

Article 29: The State shall sponsor science, literature and culture. It shall promote scientific research, preserve the Islamic and Arab heritage and contribute to the Arab, Islamic and human civilization.

About the Ministry

The Ministry of Culture symbolizes the national and international advancement of culture in the Kingdom. The Ministry will preserve the Kingdom’s historical past and promote a culturally rich future that fosters art and culture. The Ministry was created on the 2 June 2018 by Royal Order A/217, under the leadership of His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the Kingdom’s first dedicated Minister of Culture. The Ministry has a crucial role to play in delivering Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation programme, Vision 2030. Our goal is to contribute towards building a vibrant, thriving, and ambitious nation. The Ministry formally launched on the 27 March 2019 when we published our cultural vision for the Kingdom. This set out the Ministry’s key aspirations, which are: promoting culture as a way of life, enabling culture to contribute to economic growth and creating opportunities for international cultural exchange.

Vision

A flourishing of arts and culture across Saudi Arabia that enriches lives, celebrates national identity and builds understanding between people.

Mission

To support and enable a vibrant Saudi Arabian culture that is true to its past and looks to the future by cherishing heritage and unleashing new and inspiring forms of expression for all.

The Ministry of Culture has a central role to play in each of the three main strategic pillars of Vision 2030: helping to create a vibrant society, thriving economy and ambitious nation.

Message from The Minister

Culture is an essential part of the ambitious national transformation being overseen by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Vision 2030 states that culture is “indispensable to our quality of life” and notes that the Kingdom must increase both the quality and quantity of its cultural activity. The Ministry of Culture will deliver on both counts. Saudi culture stands on solid ground with Saudi creatives across various cultural sectors. We’re proud of our rich cultural environment and talents with the potential to transcend the borders of our country to reach the world. The Ministry will adopt a collaborative approach with our Saudi creatives, the jewel of our cultural sphere. We will develop an environment which supports and nurtures creativity, in addition to opening doors for new forms of expression. Saudi culture will remain an essential part of our lives. The Kingdom prides itself with a rich heritage and diverse traditions spanning 13 regions. Talented creators in various aspects of culture have earned international recognition and performed or displayed their work in different parts of the world.

Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al- Saud
Minister of Culture

The strategic approach is driven by four key principles:

Promoting

The Ministry will promote the culture sector by ensuring there is a framework and ecosystem for funds to reach participants within the sector. This will link investors to artists and cultural entrepreneurs. As well as acknowledging the achievements of the sector, through marketing activities, encompassing conventional and social media and international cultural exchanges.

Preserving

The Ministry will demonstrate respect for both ancient and modern cultural success through all its work. At all times the Ministry will ensure the promotion of Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector is respectful of the Kingdom’s heritage and distinct cultural identity.

Support

The Ministry will showcase and champion the rich aspects of Saudi culture that already exist, identifying and supporting the myriad of assets the country boasts. It will seek to remove inhibiting laws and regulations and create ones that support and enhance our sector.

Leading

The Ministry will be the driver behind Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation. It will provide clear strategic direction to partners; other government entitles and wider participants within the sector. This will be done through consistent and high-level public outreach.

Mission Statement

The Ministry published our Cultural Vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the 27th March 2019. This document provides the framework which the Ministry of Culture will adopt in support of the Kingdom’s cultural sector.

The document identifies three central objectives:

Promoting culture as a way of life
Enabling culture to contribute to economic growth
Creating opportunities for international cultural exchange

These objectives are closely aligned with the three strategic pillars of Vision 2030, which are to create a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation.

The Ministry will seek to realize the cultural sector’s potential, bringing all aspects of the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage into the daily life of Saudis – it will enrich the lives of the people of Saudi Arabia.

Culture is a broad term, and the Ministry has identified 16 priority sub-sectors where it will focus its work. The intention of this is to create a Ministry which can effectively champion causes across the sector. The Ministry will also create 11 new bodies, reporting to the Ministry which will focus on these sectors.