Cultural Investment Forum 2025: 89 Agreements Worth SAR 5 Billion Boost the Creative Economy

Riyadh – 29 September 2025 | BETH

Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Cultural Investment Forum 2025 kicked off today at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh. The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, brought together more than 150 speakers and 1,500 participants, including top decision-makers and leaders in culture and investment from Saudi Arabia and around the world.

🔹 Riyadh Arts University… A Foundation for Creativity
His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, announced the upcoming launch of Riyadh Arts University, envisioned as a cornerstone of creative education and innovation. The university will partner with leading global academic and cultural institutions, aiming to rank among the world’s top 50 specialized universities in arts and culture.

🔹 Transformative Growth in the Cultural Sector
Since the launch of Vision 2030, the Saudi cultural sector has witnessed historic progress:

Its contribution to GDP has reached 1.6%.

The number of employees has grown to 234,000.

Direct financial support exceeded USD 2 billion in 2024.

Infrastructure investments surpassed SAR 81 billion.

🔹 Strategic Partnerships and Agreements
The Minister emphasized the pivotal role of the private sector as a strategic partner in cultural development, highlighting that the forum will see the signing of 89 agreements worth nearly SAR 5 billion.

🔹 High-Level Local and International Participation
Among the distinguished attendees are:

H.E. Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment.

H.E. Faisal Al-Ibrahim, Minister of Economy and Planning.

H.E. Hamed Fayez, Vice Minister of Culture.

Global figures from Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Art Basel, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Eagle Pictures, alongside leading international academic and cultural institutions.

🔹 A Global Agenda… From AI to Creative Entrepreneurship
The two-day forum features over 38 sessions and workshops addressing:

Artificial intelligence and interactive technologies in cultural finance.

Global cultural investment funds.

Creative entrepreneurship.

Philanthropy’s role in supporting sector growth.

Strategies to reduce investment risks and boost investor confidence.

🔹 A Global Platform for a Sustainable Creative Economy
As the first of its kind in the Kingdom, the forum serves as a pioneering platform to explore the future of cultural investment and its role in building a sustainable creative economy aligned with Vision 2030. Its key goals include:

Showcasing culture as an attractive investment opportunity.

Highlighting innovative financing models.

Building strategic partnerships at both local and international levels.

Expanding cultural influence globally through cultural diplomacy.

The Cultural Investment Forum 2025 is more than just a gathering of culture and arts—it is a practical declaration of Saudi Arabia’s new era, where culture transforms from an elite pursuit into an economic force and a tool of soft diplomacy, reflecting the Kingdom’s identity and reinforcing its growing global presence.