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Riyadh Art Program
Riyadh Art is one of Riyadh’s Four Mega Projects launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on Tuesday, 19 March 2019 (12 Rajab 1440H), as an initiative by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. It is a flagship program of Saudi Vision 2030 that enhances quality of life and elevates0Riyadh’s global ranking among the world’s leading cities.
The program features a wide array of public art installations and landmarks created by local and international artists, displayed across residential neighborhoods, parks, public squares, metro stations, road and pedestrian bridges, city entrances, and key tourism destinations throughout Riyadh.
As one of the largest public art initiatives in the world, Riyadh Art seeks to enrich the quality of life in the capital, spark creativity and cultural exchange, and enhance civic pride through the power of art. It also plays a vital role in promoting social values, encouraging creative collaboration, and energizing tourism and leisure.
Riyadh Art Objectives
- Riyadh Art makes art accessible to all, enhancing urban spaces with engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring installations for visitors and residents alike.
- Riyadh Art is transforming the city into a vibrant hub of creativity; a global meeting point for artists, experts, and enthusiasts from around the world.
- The program sees Saudi artists collaborating with international peers on a global stage.
- It provides a distinguished platform that enables both local and international artists to showcase their work to residents and visitors, offering an open and inclusive artistic experience for all.
- Riyadh Art invites everyone to create through hands-on workshops, open calls and citywide programs, where everyone can connect, belong and shape Riyadh’s next chapter.
- The program also aims to stimulate tourism and leisure activities in the city, making art an integral part of everyday life in Riyadh.
Noor Riyadh Festival
Noor Riyadh is one of the flagship programs of Riyadh Art, led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. First launched in 2021, it transforms the city into a dazzling hub of light and creativity, uniting artists from around the world in a celebration of light as an artistic medium. Noor Riyadh aims to inspire awe and wonder by bringing light art to public spaces across the capital, illuminating Riyadh’s landmarks, neighborhoods, and hearts with radiant installations and immersive experiences.
Through its annual festival, Noor Riyadh nurtures connection and dialogue between cultures, communities, and generations. It reflects Riyadh’s dynamic spirit and its openness to new forms of creative expression, positioning the city as a global destination for light art and innovation. Beyond its visual splendor, Noor Riyadh contributes to the creative economy and enriches urban life, making the city more vibrant, inclusive, and inspiring for residents and visitors alike.
Global Recognition: Guinness World Records for Noor Riyadh
Launched in March 2021, Noor Riyadh has earned global acclaim with a series of Guinness World Records—setting new benchmarks for creativity, scale, and ambition in light art. Since its inception, the festival has set 16 Guiness World Records.
Noor Riyadh Festival 2021
- “Beacon” by Karolina Halatek, recognized as the largest LED structure in the world, featured 272,160 LED lights.
- “Star in Motion” by Koert Vermeulen, named the brightest suspended ornament in the world, illuminated the Kingdom Tower at a height of 256 meters with 1.2 million lights, a stunning embodiment of the theme “Under One Sky”, symbolizing human connection.
Noor Riyadh Festival 2022
Earned the title of the world’s largest light art festival, along with five additional Guinness World Records:
- “Pulse of Light” by Yann Kersalé achieved four records for the longest, largest, and highest laser shows ever staged worldwide.
- “The order of chaos: chaos in order” by Marc Brickman set a world record for most drones performing an aerial dance display.
Noor Riyadh Festival 2023
Featured three landmark artworks that collectively achieved seven Guinness World Records:
- “Desert Swarm” by DRIFT: Most drones launched in a week and the largest drone/multirotor bird swarm.
- “Magic Carpet, Origin of the World” by Miguel Chevalier: Largest interactive projection-mapped display.
- “Dialogue” by Christopher Bauder: Most lights used in a temporary light and sound show, and most lights in a light show on a single building, connecting Kingdom Tower and Al Faisaliah Tower in a symbolic conversation of light.
Noor Riyadh Festival 2024
Two new Guinness World Records were added to its growing list of global achievements:
- “The Fifth Pyramid” by Rashed AlShashai: The largest illuminated recyclable material sculpture of a pyramid, symbolizing the Kingdom’s transformation toward a knowledge-based and sustainable economy.
- “Higher Power” by Chris Levine: Longest distance covered by a laser light in a laser show, projecting a colored light from the 267-meter-high Al Faisaliah Tower, conveying a message of hope, peace, and positive transformation.
Tuwaiq Sculpture
Tuwaiq Sculpture is one of Riyadh Art’s major programs, led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Since its inception, the symposium has brought together local and international sculptors to create enduring works of art that transform the city’s urban fabric. Held annually, the event celebrates the power of collaboration, craftsmanship, and artistic dialogue—transforming raw stone into powerful expressions of creativity and culture.
Tuwaiq Sculpture serves as a platform for artistic exchange, where tradition meets contemporary practice. It highlights Riyadh’s commitment to supporting artists, promoting cultural understanding, and enhancing the city’s public spaces with monumental artworks. Each edition of the symposium contributes to the evolving landscape of Riyadh, leaving a lasting legacy that reflects both the natural beauty of the region and the vision of a modern, creative capital under Vision 2030.
The Riyadh Art Collection
The Riyadh Art Collection is a cornerstone of the city’s cultural transformation, led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. It represents a growing collection of public artworks installed across Riyadh’s neighborhoods, parks, transit hubs, and public spaces—bringing art into the everyday lives of residents and visitors. This enduring initiative ensures that creativity becomes a visible and lasting part of the city’s identity, integrating artistic expression into its architecture and environment.
The Riyadh Art Collection reflects the diversity and ambition of Riyadh’s artistic vision, featuring works by both Saudi and international artists. By embedding art throughout the urban landscape, it creates a sense of belonging, pride, and shared cultural heritage. The Riyadh Art Collection not only enriches the city but also symbolizes Riyadh’s ongoing commitment to creativity, accessibility, and cultural dialogue as part of its Vision 2030 transformation.
