Street Art in Saudi Arabia

Street Art in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia refers to initiatives for decorating walls with Arabic calligraphy and graffiti art, launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2021, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (currently known as the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing), represented by the municipalities of the various provinces in the Kingdom. These initiatives aim to create activities that support the "Year of Arabic Calligraphy" initiative, promoting the presence and artistry of Arabic calligraphy in society as a symbol of Arab cultural identity, a source of inspiration for artists throughout history, and an essential element in the history of Arab civilization.

On August 5, 2021, the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (at the time), organized an event for drawing murals in Arabic calligraphy across ten provinces in the Kingdom. Under the umbrella of the "Year of Arabic Calligraphy" initiative, as part of the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs aimed at achieving Saudi Vision 2030, this event lasted until January 2022 to celebrate Arabic calligraphy and enhance its presence in society.

The event started in Ar'ar City in the Northern Borders, lasting for three days, before moving on to Sakaka City in al-Jawf Province, followed by Tabuk Province, then Qassim. The first phase concluded in Abha City in Aseer Province. The second phase continued in al-Baha Province, followed by Hail Province, al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (al-Ula), al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province, and finally Jazan Province.

With the participation of a local calligrapher from the province and a graffiti artist in an open space, the event included drawing a mural in each province. Visitors also took part in the event by contributing their drawings and calligraphy to complete the murals.

Launched by the Visual Arts Commission of the Ministry of Culture, "RSH Street Art Festival 2023" aimed to celebrate the past and future of street art by taking these artistic expressions from inside buildings to their exterior walls, reflecting the cultural and social scene to create an interactive space, deliver a comprehensive experience, and find common artistic works between local, regional, and international artists.

The festival which started on November 18, 2023, and continued until December 6, 2023, was held in the capital city, Riyadh. It featured more than fifty participants, including artists, speakers, and experts in various forms of street art.

Makkah al-Mukarramah is adorned with murals that display various styles of art and Arabic calligraphy. Holy Makkah Municipality implemented a calligraphic mural on King Abdulaziz Street in Mahbas al-Jinn in Holy Makkah, along the road leading to the Grand Mosque.

In 2023, Holy Makkah Municipality organized a competition for mural painting and Arabic calligraphy formation as part of the sculpture and aesthetic structures event. A team from Umm al-Qura University’s Department of Visual Arts in the College of Design and Arts participated in the competition.

In 2020, Riyadh Province Municipality carried out beautification efforts for tunnels by painting murals in graffiti art, featuring phrases from the national anthem in the tunnel at the intersection of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Road and King Khalid Road in the northern part of the capital city.

These murals, created by Saudi artists, embodied Saudi identity and national values. Painting murals in tunnels is one of the initiatives launched by Riyadh Municipality to improve the urban landscape, enhance the aesthetic quality of roads, and increase the quality of life in the city by utilizing creative arts.

A visitor to Abha City will notice the spectrum of colors spreading on both sides of its streets, expressing the marks of the artists and their creativity in creating an outdoor aesthetic environment that reflects the spirit of the place. In 2016, several professional artists from the province participated in painting the murals of Abha, in addition to those who contributed to the murals of al-Muftaha Art Village. Those artists chose to bring their studios outdoors for the public to watch, spreading their art on murals in the streets.

The artists utilized spaces along roads and in tunnels, transforming their walls from silent structures into artistic expressions and works of art that promote the place and reflect its nature and the province's heritage, represented in forts, castles, and the beauty of nature, in addition to the well-known local art forms such as "al-Qatt al-Aseeri" and "al-Qasba." In some places, the murals spanned over five hundred m.

The number of murals in Abha City exceeded twenty, spread across various sites in the city. The Urban Heritage Forum offered three sites to the artists, where they painted murals along the airport road, near the Tuesday Traditional Market, and close to King Faisal Mosque.

In 2022, Qassim Province Municipality carried out beautification artworks through mural painting at King Khalid Cultural Center in Buraydah City, with the participation of Saudi female fine artists, who showcased creativity and art in public spaces through their murals.

In 2019, al-Jawf Province Municipality, in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in al-Jawf Province, and with the participation of local artists specializing in fine art, Arabic calligraphy, and sculpture, launched a mural painting initiative in the province.

In al-Ahsa, thirty female fine artists participated in a heritage mural project carried out by the Department of Education in al-Ahsa Governorate in 2020. The mural spanned thirty m in length and three m in width and was painted with acrylic colors. The mural featured drawings of heritage crafts, landmarks, and ministerial logos.

In 2021, Tabuk Province hosted activities for the "Arabic Calligraphy" murals. Graffiti artists began work on a mural at the bridge intersecting Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Road with King Abdullah Road in Tabuk, featuring artistic designs in Arabic calligraphy with the word "Tabuk" in the middle.