Riyadh University of Arts: How I Imagine It
When I think of the Riyadh University of Arts, I don’t just see a university. I see a living, breathing hub of creativity. A place that will change how we think about culture, talent, and imagination in Saudi Arabia.
More Than a Campus
To me, RUA is not just classrooms and degrees. It is a movement. A cornerstone of cultural education and innovation, supported by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I imagine painters meeting filmmakers. Musicians sitting with designers. Writers inspiring actors. All of them creating together. All of them building something new for the Kingdom and the world.
A City of Creativity
The university will be based in Riyadh’s Irqah district. It will begin with three core colleges:
- The College of Music
- The College of Film
- The College of Theater and Performing Arts
From there, it will expand to 13 cultural colleges. Each one alive with energy:
- A theater glowing with light, where Saudi stories are told on stage.
- A music hall filled with sounds that mix oud and violin, East and West.
- A film school buzzing with young directors editing their first films.
- Studios full of canvases and colors, where tradition meets modern expression.
- Architecture, culinary arts, visual arts, heritage studies, literature, cultural management, and fashion.
In my mind, this university is like a city within a city. Every corner is alive with possibility.
Global Reach, Saudi Roots
I imagine global partnerships. Professors flying in from the world’s best academies. Working side by side with Saudi visionaries. Sharing knowledge, sharing experiences. The education will be global, but the soul will always stay Saudi. RUA will design advanced curricula, foster research, and enrich programs through these collaborations.
Beyond Degrees
The university will provide a complete academic path — from short courses and diplomas to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. But when I imagine RUA, I don’t see graduates holding certificates. I see leaders walking out with courage, vision, and responsibility. Leaders who will:
- Redefine Arab cinema.
- Compose music that travels across continents.
- Transform Saudi heritage into global design.
- Write stories that echo from Riyadh to the world.
Scholarships will also open doors for cultural talents, with details to be announced in early 2026 when the official website launches.
2026: The First Step
When I picture 2026, I don’t see just the opening of a university. I see the beginning of a new chapter. A statement to the world: Saudi Arabia values art, culture, and imagination. Not as something extra. But as something essential.
By 2040, the university expects to graduate between 25,000 and 30,000 students and train up to 1,500 teachers. It will directly fuel the growth of Saudi Arabia’s cultural sector, which is set to expand by 7 percent annually and create more than 300,000 jobs in the next decade. By 2030, it could add more than SR80 billion to the national economy.
Why It Matters
To me, art is the mirror of a nation’s soul. And with Riyadh University of Arts, our soul will shine brighter than ever. We are telling the world: our story matters. Our creativity matters. And our future will be written in bold colors.
The Ministry of Culture, through its 11 cultural commissions, is reforming the sector — enhancing regulation, boosting investment, and supporting talent. Riyadh University of Arts will be a key driver of this effort, helping build a sustainable, globally competitive cultural ecosystem.
✨ This is how I imagine Riyadh University of Arts. A place not only to study, but to dream. Not only to graduate, but to leave a legacy.
When its doors open, it won’t just welcome students. It will welcome the future.
