The exterior façades of the Ilmi Science Discovery & Innovation Center in Misk City are nearing completion. Inspired by Saudi Arabia’s natural environment, the project is part of the capital’s ambitious transformation, combining architectural development with investment in knowledge and innovation under Saudi Vision 2030.

RIYADH | BETH

November 2, 2026

Riyadh continues to advance its urban and development projects under Saudi Vision 2030, with construction progressing at the Ilmi Science Discovery & Innovation Center in Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City (Misk City), where installation of the building’s exterior cladding is nearing completion.

The center features a distinctive spherical architectural design inspired by the Shidq Al-Jamal flower, combining elements of Saudi Arabia’s natural heritage with contemporary engineering to create a new architectural landmark in the capital.

The center is one of the knowledge-focused initiatives of the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk). It aims to provide an interactive educational environment that brings together science, technology, and innovation through exhibitions, hands-on experiences, and dedicated spaces for exploration and experimentation.

The project focuses on stimulating scientific curiosity among children and young people, transforming theoretical knowledge into interactive experiences that develop critical thinking, discovery, and creativity.

The center's main structural framework was completed last February, followed by work on its façades and interior facilities. The project is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2027.

Its progress reflects Riyadh’s broader transformation through projects spanning infrastructure, cultural and educational facilities, and urban destinations, strengthening the capital’s position as an international center for knowledge, business, and quality of life.

BETH Analysis | Riyadh Is Building Its Future

The significance of the Ilmi Center lies not only in its distinctive architectural design but also in the role it will play once operational.

Investment in interactive science facilities complements traditional education, helps cultivate scientific thinking, and prepares future generations for emerging economic and technological sectors.

The center is part of dozens of new development and redevelopment projects underway across Riyadh, including some of the largest of their kind in the world. Together, these initiatives are reshaping the capital through an ambitious urban, economic, and knowledge-driven transformation, preparing it for an increasingly advanced future.

While major development projects are being implemented across Saudi Arabia, Riyadh stands out for a series of landmark initiatives, including King Salman Park, Sports Boulevard, Green Riyadh, Diriyah, Qiddiya, New Murabba, King Salman International Airport, and the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project, alongside cultural, educational, and technological developments and preparations to host Expo 2030 Riyadh.

These projects are at different stages of construction and operation, but they share objectives that extend beyond developing buildings and infrastructure to diversifying the economy, improving quality of life, and expanding investment and employment opportunities.

This illustrates one of the defining features of Riyadh’s transformation: development is measured not merely by the buildings and facilities constructed, but by the knowledge, opportunities, and human capabilities they generate, and by the value they add to people's lives and the future of generations to come.

Prepared and Analyzed by | Strategic Media Department – BETH News Agency