Below are Museums in Riyadh. The Riyadh region in Saudi Arabia is characterized by having a massive number of historical and heritage monuments and museums, which represent the successive civilizations that left these traces on the area.
See main article: National Museum of Saudi Arabia. The National Museum, inaugurated in 1999, is a large national museum that brings together Saudi authenticity and modernist architecture. It narrates the historical and cultural story of Arabia and the phases of development and growth of the Kingdom passed. So, it considered one of the prominent tourist destinations in Riyadh.[1]
This hall has an area of 1500 Square Meters. It represents everything related to humans, planet, earth, movements of continents, rocks, and minerals towards extinct animals that existed in Arabia, and more.
The area measuring of this hall is 1,500 Square Meters. It includes the emergence period of Arabian Mamluk and Arabia’s business through the antiquity of Islam, reflecting the period from the 4th millennium BC to the end of the 4th century.
This hall covers 500 Square Meters, representing the period from the year 400 to the Prophet’s mission.
The hall covers 350 Square Meters and representing the period from the beginning of Islam to its spread.
The hall has 1,200 Square Meters and begins from the early years of Islam to the Ottoman era and divided into six sections.
This hall represents the first and second Saudi States.
The area measuring of this hall is 1,200 Square Meters. It represents the period the third Saudi States arose by the former King Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The area measuring of this hall is 800 Square Meters. It represents Hajj and rites with all the matters that related to them, and it has five wards.
This museum considered one of the leading museums in Saudi Arabia, especially in Riyadh. It established in 1378, within King Saud University on the ground floor of the college of literature. At the beginning of the museum's opening, it was showing the antiquities that collected during the scientific journeys and organizing the archaeological sites in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1398, the museum became affiliated with the Archaeology department, and that is when the Department of Antiquities and museums created in literature's college.
The museum's objective is to highlight the aspects and history of the Kingdom’s monuments.
See main article: SAMA Money Museum. The SAMA Money Museum is considered one of the specialized historical and cultural museums worldwide by highlighting the aesthetic and ancient appearance of the currency. This museum follows the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, and it has five halls.
The museum's contents include:
The museum also contains some raw material involved in the manufacture of the latest paper and metal money.
Al-Masmak palace has occupied a prominent place in the history of the Kingdom in general and in Riyadh in particular. The story of its construction belongs to the era of Imam Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turkey Al-Saud in 1282 AH /1865 AD. This fort is a part of a large castle that mediates the city of Riyadh. Besides, it represents the King’s first start to unify the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1319 AH /1902 AD. Also, it used as a repository of ammunition and weapons for two years, then it became a prison, and then it was converted into a heritage landmark in the middle of Riyadh. In 1400 AH / 1980 AD, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has ordered to restore the museum, and in the year 1416 AH /1995 AD, it was opened as a museum. The museum contains pictures, maps, sculptures, some ancient weapons, heritage pieces, and an audiovisual exhibition hall. Al-Masmak means the thick, raised, and hippocampal structure.[2]
The Halls include:
Features include:
See main article: Royal Saudi Air Force Museum. This museum is one of the museums that concern about aviation. It is an air museum narrating the history of Royal Saudi Air Force development since its inception by King Abdulaziz until this present day. The museum belongs to the Ministry of Defense. In 1419 AH /1999 AD, Saqr Aljazeera Aviation museum opened under the auspices of his royal highness Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to mark the centenary of opening Riyadh city. Since then, he has received official delegations, guests, and official visitors in that museum.[3]
The museum includes: