King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra)
Rising in Dhahran near the historic Prosperity Well No. 7 where commercial oil was first discovered in Saudi Arabia in 1938, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is a global beacon of art, science, and cultural innovation. Designed by Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, the building's striking exterior resembles a cluster of giant pebbles wrapped in 350 kilometers of precision-bent stainless steel tubes. Ithra houses an astounding array of cultural institutions across its 85,000 square meters: a four-story library containing over 300,000 volumes, a 900-seat performing arts theater, a world-class cinema, an interactive Children's Museum, and four dedicated fine art museum galleries spanning ancient Islamic art, modern Middle Eastern painting, and contemporary global installations. Recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the 'World's Greatest Places', Ithra symbolizes Saudi Arabia's vibrant cultural renaissance, hosting international exhibitions, film festivals, and symposiums that attract creative thinkers from around the globe.
“A global architectural icon designed by Snøhetta in Dhahran, housing world-class museums, a 4-story library, and a theater.”
— Tourism Compass Heritage Committee