Ithra: Saudi Arabia's Cultural Megacenter in Dhahran

Inaugurated in 2016, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, known as Ithra, is located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and represents Saudi Aramco's most ambitious initiative. This 80,000-square-meter facility, crafted by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta, showcases a striking gray façade made of uniquely shaped stainless steel tubes, incorporating traditional materials such as sand, gravel, and clay sourced from the kingdom, which led to its Gold LEED certification. Positioned at the historic site of the Prosperity Well, the center signifies a transition from resource extraction to nurturing creativity. Inside, it houses a library, theater, cinema, museum, and the kingdom's inaugural children's museum. The center hosts various events, including the Tanween festival from October 27 to November 13, 2021, and the "Seeing & Perceiving" exhibition, curated by Candida Pestana and Razan Alissa, running until March 26, 2022, featuring 26 works by 20 artists.