Saudi Arabia Announces First Biennale for 2021 in Ad Diriyah

Saudi Arabia will launch its first Biennale in 2021, announced by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan, who also chairs the Biennale Foundation's board. The event will initially feature artists from Arab countries, with potential future international participation. It will comprise two phases: a contemporary art exhibition followed by an Islamic art show. The Biennale will be held in Ad Diriyah, a historic town and first capital of the Al Saud dynasty, now undergoing a major tourism redevelopment led by the Ad Diriyah Gate Development Authority, whose CEO is Jerry Inzerillo. The project includes 30 new luxury hotels, restaurants, and eight museums, including the world's largest Islamic museum, the House of Al Saud. The 2019 precursor exhibition "From Within" had a curatorial committee of four members, three of whom were women: Noor Aldabbagh, Alaa Tarabzouni, and Maram Alammari. The Biennale is part of broader cultural and civil reforms, including the 2018 lifting of the driving ban on women and the 2019 introduction of tourist visas. The At-Turaif district in Ad Diriyah is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The initiative aims to position Saudi Arabia as a regional and international art hub, competing with the UAE.