Valley of the Arts in al-Ula

The Valley of the Arts in al-Ula is a Saudi project located in al-Ula Governorate in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was launched on June 27, 2022. The project is a cultural asset of the Journey Through Time Master Plan, which aims to transform al-Ula Governorate into a leading and sustainable global destination for arts, heritage, culture, and nature. Project works are scheduled to be completed in 2024. The Valley of the Arts spans an area of sixty-five km.

The Valley of the Arts in al-Ula is part of the work of the Royal Commission for al-Ula to develop the governorate. The project’s objectives include raising the level of creativity in the region, providing extraordinary experiences for visitors and residents, promoting the cultural economy of al-Ula, creating jobs, developing skills, and building capacities through art as a source of education and knowledge enrichment, as well as preserving the cultural natural environment. The project is a unique combination of creative artwork and the natural environment.

The preliminary program of the Valley of the Arts project in 2022, which precedes the opening of the Valley of Art, included a number of preparatory programs, including temporary exhibitions, artists' premises, public symposiums, and vital programs for visitors, such as shows and tours across the valley, as well as educational opportunities for Saudis.

The Valley of the Arts Project contains a host of artworks by a group of local and international artists, inspired by the natural environment of al-Ula Governorate, that revolve around several themes, including collective memory, folklore, achievement, and the importance of light. The project also attracts architects, archaeologists, designers, and nature buffs from around the world.

Al-Ula Governorate is an important historical site in the Kingdom. It was a commercial hub on the Old Incense Trail, was also the capital of the Lihyanite Kingdom, and includes the archaeological Hijr Site of the Nabataean civilization, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-listed world heritage site.

The Journey Through Time Master Plan spans ten million m of open green spaces and includes the development of five centers by 2035. It aims to achieve harmony between man and nature, preserve the global cultural and civilizational heritage, promote investment opportunities, and support sustainable economic growth within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.