Saudi Minister of Culture

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the first Minister of Culture in Saudi Arabia, has spearheaded a comprehensive strategy to revitalise the country’s creative sectors. His leadership has resulted in the establishment of various cultural commissions, focusing on areas such as film, fashion, culinary arts, and architecture, aimed at preserving and developing Saudi heritage into a thriving industry.

Through strategic efforts, the cultural sector has become vital to Saudi national development, fostering new local talent. Under the Minister’s leadership, the Kingdom has hosted key international events and invested in premier infrastructure like AlUla and King Salman Park, promoting intercultural dialogue and a cultural renaissance that harmonises historical values with a progressive outlook.

In addition, Saudi Arabia is leading a cultural movement that extends internationally, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify its economy and enhance the experiences of citizens and visitors. Meanwhile, this initiative merges tradition with modern innovation, reshaping the Kingdom’s identity and cultivating a significant global cultural presence.

His Early Years & Profession

September 16, 1985, saw the birth of Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud. He is now the first individual to hold the position of Minister of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the ministry’s establishment.

Moreover, Prince Badr has held significant roles, including Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cultural Development Fund since 2021 and Governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate since July 2017, contributing to the cultural goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Additionally, before his private sector career in energy, real estate, and telecommunications, he earned a Bachelor of Laws from King Saud University in Riyadh.

Media Leadership & Strategic Partnerships

SRMG, a major Middle Eastern publishing and media company, expanded into the U.S. and U.K. in December 2015 under Prince Badr’s leadership. Notable developments include a partnership with Bloomberg News in September 2017 to launch Bloomberg Arabia and the acquisition of a 51% stake in the online financial news platform Argaam in October 2017.

In January 2017, SRMG and the MiSK Foundation signed a cooperation agreement to support the foundation’s youth programmes in media and communications. Also, Prince Badr leads the board of directors of the Misk Art Institute, which focuses on promoting cultural diplomacy and artistic exchange globally.

Heritage Preservation & Vision 2030 Initiatives

In June 2017, Prince Badr became the Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla, focusing on developing archaeological sites in the Madinah region to create a global cultural destination. In April 2018, he signed an agreement with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to utilise French expertise in AlUla’s restoration and development over ten years.

Likewise, Prince Badr launched five new initiatives in August 2018 aimed at developing AlUla, including an international scholarship programme for local students and community programmes centred on heritage preservation and job creation.

On February 24, 2021, Prince Badr was appointed Vice Chairman of Soudah Development Company, which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to aid in the development of mountain and tourist destinations in the Kingdom.

Besides, Prince Badr has chaired the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science since 2019 and is a board member of several organisations, including the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) and Panthera, which focuses on wild cat conservation. Also, he chairs the Board of Directors of the Misk Art Institute and the Board of Trustees of the Arabian Leopard Fund, and plays key roles in initiatives associated with Saudi Vision 2030.

Among His Most Prominent Cultural Roles Are

• Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cultural Development Fund.
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language.
• Member of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts.
• Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Taif Development Authority.

Establishing Institutions to Lead the Cultural Scene

Prince Badr has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Culture, which aims to promote and support the cultural sector in alignment with the Kingdom’s national aspirations for sustainable cultural and arts development.

On June 2, 2018, Prince Badr was appointed Minister of Culture, marking the first time this role was established in the Kingdom. Consequently, he resigned as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group to focus on leading the Ministry during its early development. Today, the Saudi Ministry of Culture is a key element of Vision 2030, focused on enhancing the cultural infrastructure, empowering creators, and reinforcing national identity.

Prince Badr’s first official statement highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing Saudi identity and supporting youth across diverse creative fields, including visual arts, literature, music, and culinary arts, underscoring culture as a key civilizational force in development. Moreover, the Minister of Culture has been appointed to chair the boards of 11 cultural authorities that oversee the regulation and development of 16 cultural sectors, following a restructuring of the cultural sector.

• The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Authority
• The Fashion Authority
• The Film Authority
• The Heritage Authority
• The Architecture and Design Authority
• The Visual Arts Authority
• The Museums Authority
• The Theatre and Performing Arts Authority
• The Libraries Authority
• The Music Authority
• The Culinary Arts Authority

These authorities manage policy development, organise events, support talent, and initiate programmes to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s cultural presence domestically and globally. In addition, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud awarded Prince Badr the King Abdulaziz Sash of the First Class on April 6, 2021, for his significant contributions to the cultural sector and service to the Kingdom, marking one of the highest honours in the Kingdom.

Empowering Saudi Cinema & Arts for Global Recognition

The Saudi Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, acknowledges the value of the arts in all their manifestations, especially the film industry, as instruments of contemporary cultural and civilisational expression.

In multiple public statements, the Prince underlined the necessity of allowing Saudis to express their own tales, saying, “We aspire to see our Saudi stories reach the largest international film festivals and compete with the rest of the global film industry.”

The Ministry’s initiatives included the introduction of a financing scheme for the film industry with a budget of 879 million Saudi Riyals. This is one of the Kingdom’s biggest direct support initiatives for the film industry.

Furthermore, the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate was established, and the “Film AlUla” initiative was launched as the first government entity specialising in supporting domestic and international film production, to transform AlUla Governorate into a global filming destination.

Additionally, Prince Badr trained around 1,400 young Saudi men and women in a variety of disciplines, including acting, writing, production, directing, music, and visual effects, with a focus on developing national talent in the arts and film industry.

Artistic Milestones & Cultural Diplomacy

On December 7, 2017, Prince Badr was involved in the purchase of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi,” one of the world’s most expensive paintings, as reported by The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. The next day, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism announced the painting’s acquisition, which is set to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Prince Badr aims to elevate contemporary Saudi art internationally, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, facilitating Saudi artists’ participation in various global events.

• Biennale de la Contemporaine
• The 58th Venice Biennale
• The Artificial Intelligence and Intercultural Dialogue Exhibition at the Hermitage Museum in Russia

Further, Prince Badr announced the creation of the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art, a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority. The museum’s goal is to enhance the visual arts infrastructure, serving as a centre for contemporary visual identity and promoting Saudi artists’ works both nationally and internationally.

In 2023, the first Islamic Arts Biennale took place at the Hajj Terminal in Jeddah, supervised by the Minister of Culture, featuring over 40 international artists.

The event featured four indoor and two outdoor exhibition pavilions:

• More than 50 newly commissioned artworks.
• 280 artifacts.
• More than 15 artifacts displayed for the first time.

This exhibition connects contemporary creativity with Islamic heritage, serving as a global platform for intercultural dialogue through art. In short, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud is the de facto leader driving the cultural transformation in Saudi Arabia, bolstered by his expertise and the Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to enhance the cultural sector in the coming years.

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