The Royal Arts Complex is the cultural anchor of King Salman Park, designed by the studio of the late Ricardo Bofill. The Foundation launched construction on 25 May 2022 and describes a site of more than 500,000 m². It is not open: MEED reported in September 2026 that the complex is due to be handed to the Ministry of Culture within three to six months.
Key facts
| Complex area |
More than 500,000 m²
King Salman Park Founda…May 2022King Salman Park Founda…May 2022Umm Al-Qura Gazette (SP…May 2022
Site area as stated in the Foundation's 2022 launch releases (English and Arabic) · as of May 2022
More than 400,000 m² King Salman Park Founda…Al Madina
Site area in the 2019 launch text, repeated by Al Madina in Jan 2024 · Mar 2019
320,000 m² across 13 structures ArchDaily
Built area of the building complex as described by ArchDaily, not site area · May 2025
|
|---|---|
| Gross floor area |
About 300,000 m² GFA
MEEDJun 2023
Gross floor area as reported by MEED (June 2023) · as of Jun 2023
Medium confidence
|
| Named venues |
7 named venues
Royal Commission for Ri…KSA.com / SPAApr 2025
Count in the Ministry of Culture's April 2025 list and the Royal Commission page; naming of two venues differs · as of Apr 2025
|
| Central boulevard |
About 1.5 km
ArchDailyMay 2025
Length of the boulevard the buildings are arranged along (ArchDaily) · as of May 2025
Medium confidence
|
| Handover to the Ministry of Culture |
Due within 3 to 6 months of 30 Sep 2026
MEEDSep 2026
MEED window, about Dec 2026 to Mar 2027; handover of operations, not a public opening · as of Sep 2026
Medium confidence
|
How big is the Royal Arts Complex?
Each figure is labelled as site area, building complex area or gross floor area. We lead with the Royal Commission's 500,000 m² site.
Why figures differ →A cultural quarter, built as one composition
The Royal Arts Complex is the part of King Salman Park most likely to change how Riyadh spends its evenings. The studio of the late Ricardo Bofill, Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, arranged a chain of buildings along a central boulevard that ArchDaily gives as 1.5 km long. The Foundation's launch announcement of 25 May 2022 set out the contents: a museum, a national theatre, an institute with a 600-seat auditorium, a library, artists' studios, a spheroid dome for artists in residence and three cinema halls.
How big is it?
Sources measure different things, so we show them side by side. The Foundation's 2022 release says more than 500,000 m² (its 2019 launch text said 400,000 m²). ArchDaily describes a 320,000 m² building complex with 13 structures, and MEED has reported about 300,000 m² of gross floor area. The first is the site; the others are buildings.
Seven named venues
The Ministry of Culture's April 2025 list names seven: the Museum of World Cultures, the National Theatre, the Arts Library, the Arts Cinema, the Sculpture Pavilion, the Dome and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts. The Royal Commission's page uses slightly different names for two of them (an outdoor cinema and an exhibition dome). We treat these as naming variants.
Who is building it
Modern Building Leaders was selected as contractor in 2022, in a contract MEED reported at about SAR 7.5 billion. Douglas Gautier was named CEO of the complex by the Ministry of Culture in April 2025.
Where it stands
MEED reported on 30 September 2026 that the complex is due to be handed to the Ministry of Culture within three to six months, which points to December 2026 to March 2027. Handing over means operations pass to the Ministry. It is not the same as opening to visitors, and no opening date has been announced.
Explore it in 3D
Drag to turn it. A stylised model and artist impression, not an official design.
How tall is it?
What's inside
Artist impression, not an official rendering
Museum of World Cultures
A pyramid-like museum rising above the Royal Arts Complex
Artist impression, not an official rendering
National Theatre
A 2,300-seat stage at the heart of the Royal Arts Complex
Royal Institute of Traditional Arts
A home for training in traditional arts, heritage and performance
Arts Library
A specialist library for culture and the arts
Arts Cinema
Three cinema halls inside the Royal Arts Complex
Sculpture Pavilion
A hall devoted to sculpture
The Dome
A spheroid structure for artists in residence
650-seat Theatre
A second, smaller stage beside the National Theatre
Timeline
Bofill commissioned to design the Royal Arts Complex
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City commissioned Ricardo Bofill's studio in 2019 to design the Royal Arts Complex, the cultural heart of the park.
ArchDailyMay 2025First major contracts: about USD 1bn (SAR 3.85bn)
The Foundation awarded SAR 3.847bn of work for site preparation, tunnels and bridges on Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and Al Urubah roads, and groundwork for the Royal Arts Complex. This marks the real start of construction.
King Salman Park Founda…Jan 2022Arab NewsSep 2021Modern Building Leaders selected for the Royal Arts Complex
MEED reported Modern Building Leaders as contractor for the complex, at about SAR 7.5bn (USD 2bn). Later reports quote a lower figure, so the value depends on the source and scope.
MEEDJun 2023Royal Arts Complex construction launched
The Foundation's board, chaired by the Crown Prince, launched construction on the Royal Arts Complex, more than 500,000 square metres with a museum, theatre, library, cinema and institute for traditional arts.
King Salman Park Founda…May 2022Royal Arts Complex reported 48% complete
A Foundation executive told MEED that structural works on the complex were done and construction was 48% complete. More than 13 million cubic metres of soil had been excavated.
MEEDMay 2024Douglas Gautier named CEO of the Royal Arts Complex
The Ministry of Culture named Douglas Gautier to run and programme the complex and prepare its operations.
Saudi Press AgencyApr 2025KSA.com / SPAApr 2025Construction images show the Royal Arts Complex rising
ArchDaily published construction photographs of Bofill's complex: 13 structures totalling about 320,000 square metres.
ArchDailyMay 2025Ajdan and SEDCO Capital launch a USD 1bn mixed-use fund
The SAR 3.8bn fund covers 106,000 square metres on Oruba Road beside the Royal Arts Complex, with 600+ homes and 45,000 square metres of offices. The National reported it on 17 November and AGBI on 18 November.
The NationalNov 2025AGBINov 2025Museum of World Cultures: 2026 opening target set in 2024
In July 2024 the museum was due to open in 2026. No newer date has been announced, and the Royal Arts Complex handover is not expected until between December 2026 and March 2027.
Saudi Press AgencyJul 2024MEEDSep 2026Royal Arts Complex handover to the Ministry of Culture expected
MEED reported on 30 September 2026 that handover is due within three to six months, so between December 2026 and March 2027. No handover has been announced yet.
MEEDSep 2026News
- 12 Nov 2026 Where things stand: no asset open yet, Royal Arts Complex handover still pending MEEDArchDaily
- 17 Nov 2025 Ajdan and SEDCO Capital set up a USD 1bn fund The NationalAGBI
- 13 Apr 2025 Douglas Gautier named CEO of the Royal Arts Complex Saudi Press AgencyKSA.com / SPA
Gallery
Sources
- OSM way 1340483167 Museum of World Cultures (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) · OpenStreetMap contributors, 12 Nov 2026
- King Salman Park — The Masterplan / Destination for Investment · King Salman Park Foundation, 1 Jan 2025
- (Arabic version) Board launches the Royal Arts Complex project · King Salman Park Foundation, 25 May 2022
- Board launches Royal Arts Complex project · King Salman Park Foundation, 25 May 2022
- King Salman Park · Royal Commission for Riyadh City
- King Salman Park prepares for soft opening · MEED, 30 Sep 2026
- Bofill Taller de Arquitectura Reveals Construction Images of the Royal Arts Complex in Riyadh · ArchDaily, 7 May 2025
- Contractors win $2.5bn · MEED, 16 Jun 2023
- برئاسة ولي العهد.. مجلس إدارة مؤسسة حديقة الملك سلمان يطلق مشروع المجمع الملكي للفنون · Umm Al-Qura Gazette (SPA wire), 25 May 2022
- Ministry names Gautier CEO · KSA.com / SPA, 13 Apr 2025