Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister – may God protect him – the Cultural Investment Conference 2025 commenced yesterday at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture and attended by His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, alongside more than 150 speakers and 1,500 participants including top decision-makers and leaders in culture and investment from across Saudi Arabia and the world.

In his opening speech, the Minister of Culture announced the imminent launch of Riyadh University of Arts, which will be the cornerstone for creative education and innovation, supplying the cultural sector with talents and creators in partnership with leading international academic and cultural institutions. He noted that the establishment of this new cultural university is an extension of the wise leadership’s support for the sector, aiming to place the university among the top 50 international universities specialized in arts and culture. This reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building cultural capacities, a key pillar in its plan to develop cultural sectors.

He said, “We are pleased to launch the first edition of the Cultural Investment Conference, which explores the future of cultural investment, its prospects, and developmental potentials.” He highlighted that since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the cultural sector has witnessed a historic leap, increasing its contribution to the GDP to 1.6%, raising the number of workers to 234,000, and receiving nearly 2 billion dollars in financial support in 2024. Infrastructure investments reached historic levels exceeding 81 billion riyals.

The Minister emphasized that the private sector is a strategic partner in the journey of developing the Saudi cultural sector. The conference contributes to strengthening this essential partnership and will witness the signing of 89 agreements valued at approximately 5 billion riyals.

The conference features a distinguished group of prominent figures in the cultural and investment fields, including His Excellency Minister of Investment Engineer Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, His Excellency Minister of Economy and Planning Mr. Faisal bin Fadhel Al-Ibrahim, His Excellency Deputy Minister of Culture Mr. Hamed bin Mohammed Faiz, Assistant Minister of Culture Mr. Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Tawq, Sotheby’s CEO Charles Stewart, Christie’s Chairman Guillaume Cerutti, Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz, Sony Pictures Entertainment Non-Executive Chairman Tony Vinciquerra, Eagles Pictures founder Tarek bin Ammar, Historic England Chairman and Oriel College Oxford Dean Lord Neil Mendoza, and Genesis Foundation founder and chairman John Studzinski.

Over two days, the conference will hold more than 38 panel discussions and workshops covering the latest trends in cultural investment, showcasing successful international experiences in supporting and financing creative industries, exploring emerging markets and untapped sectors, and discussing strategies to reduce investment risks and enhance investor confidence.

Sessions cover diverse topics including artificial intelligence and interactive technologies in cultural financing, the importance of philanthropy in sector growth, creative entrepreneurship, global cultural investment funds, and innovative public financing partnerships.

Held for the first time in the Kingdom, the conference forms a leading global platform that anticipates the future of cultural investment and strengthens its role in building a sustainable creative economy. This aligns with Vision 2030 goals related to diversifying the national economy, consolidating cultural identity, and enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position as an influential power on the international stage.

The conference aims to present culture as an attractive investment opportunity by showcasing innovative financing models, building strategic partnerships, and developing new mechanisms to support creative industries and maximize the role of cultural capital in stimulating global economic growth. It also highlights the contribution of cultural investment in empowering national talents, promoting justice and inclusion, and expanding cultural influence beyond national borders through cultural diplomacy. Through these themes, the Cultural Investment Conference affirms Saudi Arabia’s commitment to its pioneering role in leading global transformations in the creative economy and establishing Riyadh as an international capital for culture and investment, reflecting its ambitious vision and growing stature in the global cultural and economic landscape.