King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture

‘A talent showcase’: Ithra’s cosmopolitan director outlines his strategy for the creative future of Saudi Arabia

Designed by Norwegian architects Snohetta, and built at a reported cost of around $400 million, Ithra has been called a mega-museum, a culture hub, an ideas lab and a hyper-university.
The word “ithra” is the Arabic for “prosperity,” and Al-Mutairi called it “Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious citizenship initiative. It is Aramco’s next step in giving back to the country.”

By Frank Kane · 16 June 2018