ITHRA MUSEUM

Ithra is probably the finest museum in Saudi Arabia. It was built on the site of the discovery of the country's first oil field in March 1938. Located 15 kilometers south of Dammam, the building, inspired by the internal structure of the bedrock in which oil is formed, stands in the middle of a desolate desert. The work of Norwegian architect Snohetta, the tower and its two oversized pebbles alone are worth a look. The Ithra Museum joins Dubai's Museum of the Future, the Guggenheim Museums in New York and Bilbao, the Musée des Confluences in Lyon and the Ordos Museum in China as architectural masterpieces. It has been designed in compliance with LEED environmental standards, and all the species planted in its gardens have been chosen for their resilience to the harsh Saudi climate. In Arabic, ithra means "enrichment", and the name was naturally chosen to signify cultural enrichment, the raison d'être of this beautiful museum. Ithra is also part of a larger project, the King Abdulaziz Cultural Center for World Culture, which includes a children's museum, a library and a 900-seat auditorium. The Cultural Center was inaugurated in December 2016 by King Salmane bin Abdulaziz, and the museum opened in June 2018. The site was entirely financed by Aramco, the Saudi oil company.

In addition to the collections, the museum can be visited as a work of art in itself. The volumes, materials, play of light and layout of the space are commented on during scheduled one-hour tours in English. The Ithra Museum is divided into five thematic galleries.

Funoon Gallery (Gallery 1). This gallery showcases contemporary art from the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, with temporary exhibitions highlighting the work of today's artists.

Galerie Ajyaal (Galerie 2). The second gallery bridges the gap between the Saudi Arabia of yesterday and today. It revisits national sentiment through the country's different regions and cultures.

Galerie Kunooz (Galerie 3). This gallery pays tribute to the country's Islamic heritage through a selection of ancient religious objects, models and interactive displays.

Galerie Rehlaat (Gallery 4). The interactive exhibition presents the country's geological formation, flora and fauna.

Galerie Aramcorama (Gallery 5). Photos and texts present the modern history of Saudi Arabia, which was profoundly altered by the discovery of oil.