Page 44 - U4SSC Factsheet, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 2020

Culture

Category KPI Result Performance to Benchmark SDG

Cultural 0.21 %
Expenditure

Cultural
Infrastructure
Not Reported No Benchmark Available
(per 100 000
inhabitants)

Riyadh contains many prominent cultural institutions, including the King ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Historical Centre,
which is a collection of restored historic buildings that contain a mosque, a library and a conference
hall that showcase the history of the Kingdom’s foundation and development. Riyadh also houses the
country’s famous National Museum and National Library. Several squares, markets, public parks and
restaurants adorn the city. The city is also home to several major events, such as Al-Jinādiriyyah, a
national heritage and culture festival that hosts Arab, Muslim, and international celebrities participating
in panel discussions, intellectual forums and poetry sessions. It offers exhibitions, shopping, cultural
shows and other entertainment.

The Al-Jinādiriyyah festival alone attracts many visitors and participants to Riyadh. As increasing tourism
in this way is a key Saudi Vision 2030 goal, it will need a higher level of investment in the preservation,
protection and exhibition of each city's culture and historical heritage. While Riyadh currently spends
less than a quarter of 1 per cent of its GDP on its cultural and natural heritage, Saudi Arabia’s new
National Transformation Plan will see nearly $1 billion distributed to preserve the cultural heritage. It
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is recommended that Riyadh also inventories its cultural infrastructure sites as part of this effort and
reports that KPI in future years.

38 U4SSC Factsheet | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | June 2020