Saudi Arabia is steeped in history, and everyone is constantly surrounded by it. However, it is often necessary to take a second look to comprehend the vastness of the country's cultural heritage. There's just so much to see in the country and the museums in Saudi Arabia are the best way way to peep into the history and culture of the nation ! The country is proud of its 4,000 year old cultural history and is leading the way in preserving past achievements, recognizing them in the present, and taking them into account when planning for the future.
Top 8 Museums in Saudi Arabia for the Historical Geek in You
The museums in Saudi Arabia are a portal to the history of the nation. Let's dive into the best ones.
1. Scitech Technology Center
At the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Science & Technology Center, explore science with more than 350 interactive displays for the whole family (Scitech). Watch an IMAX film, visit the aquarium to see what's under the sea, and then look up at the stars and planets at the Scitech Astronomical Observatory. In the Amazing Technology Hall, which you can preview online, learn about the role technology plays in our daily lives and the field's future in Saudi Arabia.
Now to a place where you can see your everyday life in a whole new light: Scitech is where you can learn about scientific phenomena that have perplexed and intrigued you for a long time, it most definitely is one of the best museums in Saudi Arabia. This Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Charity Foundation initiative has been voted Al Khobar's best museum to visit, and it can compete with the world's most advanced scientific facilities.
Doesn't it sound a little serious? It's a true haven for both young and old. Scitech contains seven major exhibition halls, an IMAX cinema, an astronomical observatory, and a large aquarium with colourful fish and corals.
Location - Corniche, Alkurnaish, Al Khobar 34412 31952, Saudi Arabia
Timings -
- Monday to Thursday – From 8: 0 AM to 3: 00 PM, 4: 00 PM to 10: 00 PM
- Friday and Saturday – From 4: 00 PM to 10: 00 PM
- Sunday - From 8: 0 AM to 3: 00 PM, 4: 00 PM to 10: 00 PM
Entrance Fee – For adults 46 Riyals, for kinds 34 Riyals and for a group pf 5 people 34 Riyas each
2. The National Museum of Saudi Arabia
The National Museum of Saudi Arabia, which is part of the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre in Riyadh, was built in 1999. Although ideas for this remarkable facility have been in the works since the 1980s, the actual planning and construction of the museum from the ground up took only 26 months. The architecture is influenced by the shape and colours of the "Red Sands" sand dunes just outside Riyadh.
According to one reviewer, the magnificent museum is a "must-see," where you can find relics and even see a massive asteroid, so why not add it your list of best top attractions in Saudi Arabia. It also features a vast exhibition of Qurans and a lot of information about Islam's history. There is also a nice gift shop for those who want to take a bit of their unforgettable vacation home with them.
This Saudi Arabia Museum in Riyadh, despite its modern appearance, takes visitors on a journey through millennia of culture, art, and history, from prehistoric Arabia to the present day. Explore interactive displays, reproductions of historic Jeddah structures, Neolithic rock art, antiquities, manuscripts, and centuries-old crafts, as well as Arabia's broad economic and commercial activity. Inside the two-story, 28,000-square-meter museum, which features eight galleries, education and entertainment collide.
Location - Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
Timings – Monday to Sunday – From 12: 00 PM to 2: 00 PM and 4: 00 PM and 8: 00 PM
Entrance Fee - 10 Riyals
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3. Al Tayebat International City
Being one of the best places to visit in Jeddah, this gem, nestled in the heart of the city has been lauded for the magnificent preservation of its ancient architecture and its spectacular display of items mostly centred on Saudi history and culture, but also objects from adjacent countries and international Islamic art in general. Visitors have complimented Al Tayebat International City for providing a truly unique opportunity to learn more about regional culture – and because there is so much to see.
Others advise allotting at least 2-3 hours if you wish to tour all four floors. A visit to Tayebat Museum will give you a true sense of the melting pot that is Jeddah. Explore 2,500 years of living history by strolling through re-creations of typical Hijazi architecture found in the old city, reading early manuscripts written by Arab travellers and geographers, and learning about Islamic history.
You’ll feel as if you were transported through time as you enter each new, ornately decorated space in this 10,000-square-meter facility. The huge complex includes 12 buildings and nearly 300 rooms.
Location - Rayhanat Al Jazirah, Al Faisaliyah District, Al Faisaliyah District 3170, Saudi, Jeddah 23442 8786, Saudi Arabia
Timings –
- Monday to Thursday & Saturday to Sunday – From 8: 00 AM to 12: 00 PM, 5: 00 PM to 9: 00 PM
- Closed on Friday
Entrance Fee - Different guiding tours companies charge different fee
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4. Dar Al Madinah Museum
Of course, being the second most important city for Islam is significant, but there is also a special place to visit in Medina if you want to increase your respect for Islamic history. The Madina Museum was chosen the best museum in the city by visitors, who described it as "exceptionally unforgettable.".
The structure is the former and well-known Hejaz Train Station, which was erected in 1908 and has subsequently been converted to display historical objects. The museum is organised into parts that explain the holy city's history as well as the local way of life. Paintings, stone-carved manuscripts, and a large variety of antiques are also available. Discover Medina's fascinating history and heritage through photo galleries, city models showing Medina in various time periods, and relics such as the bow of Saad Ibn Abi-Waqas, an illustrious archer and companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
Explore displays like the History of Masjid Al Nabawi, which shows how the Prophet's Mosque has evolved over time, to learn about how the landscape and people of Medina have changed over time.
Location - Safwan Ibn Malik Al Tamimi, Al Mabuth, Medina 42362, Saudi Arabia
Timings -
- Monday to Thursday and Saturday & Sunday – From 11: 00 AM to 7: 00 PM
- Closed on Friday
Entrance Fee - 25 Riyals
5. Tabuk Castle
Tabuk Castle, as its name suggests, was once a real stronghold, dating back to the 35th century BC! It was one of several forts built along the pilgrimage path, and its name, which means "Companions of the Wood," appears in the holy Quran.
It has a ground-floor mosque, an open courtyard, and a stairway that leads to the castle's second mosque and watchtowers, and has been voted the best museum to visit in Tabuk. Outside, there are cisterns where spring water from a well was originally collected. The museum houses an extensive collection of artefacts and papers from the Prophet Muhammad's time. The castle of Tabuk has been converted into a museum.
There are various rooms with interesting Ottoman-era artefacts and plenty of signs regarding Tabuk's history, its link to the Prophet Muhammad, and several great travellers including Ibn Battuta and Evliya Celebi. Outside, there are cisterns that originally held water from a spring that the Prophet Muhammad is said to have his drinks.
Location – Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Timings –
- Monday to Thursday and Saturday & Sunday – From 7: 00 AM to 1: 45 PM, 4: 00 Pm to 8: 00 PM
- Closed on Friday
Entrance Fee - Visitors are advised to consult the local authorities for the entry fee of Tabuk Castle
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6. Aloqilat Museum
More than ten thousand rare historical documents, as well as the tools and commercial route maps used by the first people who resided in the region, are housed at this museum. Visiting the Aloqilat Museum is one of the best things to do in Saudi Arabia and is a terrific way to reflect on the rich history of Saudi Arabic and explore where our forefathers originated from and how they connected with other countries in the region to form partnerships and trade exchanges.
Location - 418, Wahtan, Buraydah 52342, Saudi Arabia
Timings – Monday to Sunday – From 8: 00 AM to 12: 00 PM, 4: 00 M to 6: 30 PM
Entrance Fee - Visitors are advised to consult the local authorities for the entry fee of Aloqilat Museum
7. King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture is dubbed Ithra because it means "enrichment" in Arabic. ItSocial stands 18 floors tall and is flanked by smaller circular structures and the desert. The complex, which is made of gleaming tubular steel, is not only a progressive architectural feat, but also a cultural hub, including a library with over 270,000 books, an auditorium, and exhibition rooms. "The centre is a location where thoughts and visions come to life," says Ithra director Ali Al-Mutairi. You can also check out the museum's other offerings, such as 3D ceramic printing and STEM sessions — as well as presentations like SciNight for young scientists.
Location - 8386 Ring Rd, Gharb Al Dhahran, Dhahran 34461, Saudi Arabia
Timings -
- Monday to Thursday and Saturday – From 9: 00 AM to 10: 00 PM
- Friday – From 4: 00 PM to 10: 00 PM
- Closed on Sunday
Entrance Fee - Visitors are advised to consult the local authorities for the entry fee of King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture
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8. Al Bassam Heritage House
This well-preserved Arabian Mud House is located at the western entrance of Onaizah's old city (formerly known as Bab Al Khala), and was planned and arranged to resemble the unique style of clay building associated with Najd's residences. According to some guests, visiting the Bassam Heritage House is an unforgettable experience that will transport you back in time, as it transports you to the old way of life over two centuries ago.
Location - 3XQ8+QX3, Ad Dulayah, Unayzah 56219, Saudi Arabia
Timings - Visitors are advised to consult the local authorities for the timings of Al Bassam Heritage House
Entrance Fee - Visitors are advised to consult the local authorities for the entry fee of Al Bassam Heritage House
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Saudi Arabia is one of the most beautiful nations of the Middle East. What better way to dive in the history of the nation that visiting the Saudi Arabia Museums. The country is a true haven for cultural and historical buffs! Museums goers tend to fall in love with the picks mentioned in the above article. So, what are you waiting for then? Book your flight tickets to Saudi Arabia today and hop on the cultural journey of the country.
FAQs
Yes, there are museums in Saudi Arabia. Take a second to appreciate just how vast the cultural heritage is throughout the country. There’s just so much to see all throughout Saudi Arabia. Al Bassam Heritage House and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia are to name few that you not miss out on.
As the count of 2019, there are around 210 museums in Saudi Arabia. The museums here are a way to peep into the history of the nation. Offering so much to learn, you should definitely add these to your bucket list. Read the above article to know more about the best museums in Saudi Arabia.
The best museums in Saudi Arabia are Al Bassam Heritage House, King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Aloqilat Museum, Tabuk Castle, Dar Al Madinah Museum, Al Tayebat International City, Scitech Technology Center, and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.
Tabuk Castle was actually once a real fortress, and is renowned for being the same. It is the one that originally dates back all the way to the 35th century BC! It was actually one of several forts built along the pilgrimage route and its name, which translates to “Companions of the Wood” is even mentioned in the holy Quran.
Yes, there are museums in Medina. To name the best one, it would be Dar Al Madinah Museum. The building of the museum itself is actually the former, and famous, Hejaz Train Station that was built in 1908 that was since repurposed to house historical artifacts. The museum is divided into sections that explain the history of the holy city and the local living style.
The address is Rayhanat Al Jazirah, Al Faisaliyah District, Al Faisaliyah District 3170, Saudi, Jeddah 23442 8786, Saudi Arabia.
It is situated in the center of Jeddah has been praised for the beautiful upkeep of its historical architecture and its dazzling display of artifacts that are largely focused on Saudi history and culture, but also on artifacts from the neighboring countries and international Islamic art in general.
The best time to visit Saudi Arabia is in the month if November, as it is the coldest month of the country (Saudi Arabia is a warm nation). The official tourist season spans from October to March. You can plan your vacation in whichever month suits you the best.
The best places to visit in Saudi Arabia are Al Masmak Fort, Deerah Souq, Athr Gallery, Al Shallal Theme Park, Dammam Corniche, Half Moon Bay, Al Marjan Island, Al-Masjid An-Nabawi, The Madinah Museum, Al Jaubail Mall, Aseer Regional Museum, Corniche Al Khobar, and Al Qarah Mountain.
