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The National Museum of Saudi Arabia, one of the most popular tourist destinations, keeps as a reminder of the customs, traditions, and old Arabic culture. This museum is a section of the King Abdulaziz History Center, founded in 1999.
Al-Madi Park to the east and Al-Wadi Park to the north surround the museum. The eastern side is made up of the two of them. It exhibits items from all across the nation and the world in addition to displaying the best artefacts. This museum is one of the top attractions of Saudi Arabia that you shouldn't miss in your life.
The Wonder of Architecture
Raymond Moriyama, a renowned architect, oversaw the beautiful creation of the National Museum. The colours and structure of the Red Sands near Riyadh served as inspiration for the design. A crescent-shaped reflection of the dunes' contour can be seen on the west facade of Murabba Square, showing in the direction of Makkah.
The history of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula is opened up and shows its greatness. A Unification Drum made up of several galleries shows the Saudi state as it maintains now. The Hajj and the two holiest mosques are exhibited in the final gallery. Two extra galleries have been set aside. You shouldn’t miss these wonders and should add them to your favourite tourist places in Saudi Arabia.
The Exhibitions of the Museum
If you are a lover of ancient items, here you will have the best things to do in Saudi Arabia. The National Museum, one of the top attractions in Saudi Arabia, has eight halls. Here we explain in detail about these halls of wonder!
1. Man and the Universe
This exhibition shows the earliest stages of human society, pointing out how changes to the surface of the earth touched those people. The hall has only one section, which is located on the ground floor. The following are some of the exhibits in this Man and the Universe hall:
a huge meteorite fragment discovered near the Wabar Craters in the Rub al Khali desert.
The running of the solar system and the tectonic plates are detailed with interactive displays.
Exhibits the Arabian Peninsula's geology, topography, and evolution of its flora and fauna.
A Platybelodon and an Ichthyosaur skeleton.
2. The Arab Kingdom
14 pre-Islamic Arabian kingdoms that ruled over the Arabian Peninsula between 5000 BC and 700 AD are represented in this hall. Old artefacts and interactive storytelling exhibits are on display and these are all over the hall. The hall has only one section, which is located on the ground floor. The following are the kingdoms:
Obaid (5300 BC – 3600 BC)
Dilmun (2400 BC – 1700 BC)
Ad (4000 BC – 3500 BC)
Thamud (3500 BC – 3000 BC)
Midian (1700 BC – 1050 BC)
Qedar (10th Century BC)
Ghassanid (400 AD – 700 AD) and more.
3. The Pre-Islamic Era
The Jahiliya Era Hall explains the way of life of the Arabs before the advent of the Islamic Prophet (PBUH). It depicts the Arabian way of life before the arrival of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
The museum showcases several cities from this era, including Khaibar, Makkah, Yathrib, and Jarash. You can see how the calligraphies and scripts developed in the area. The hall has only one section, which is located on the ground floor. For historophiles, it is one of the top attractions in Saudi Arabia.
4. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Mission
The Prophet Muhammad's birth, family, and lineage are all extensively exhibited in this hall. The hall also shows why he moved from Makkah to Madinah. You can see a wall where a tree is kept as a representation of the Prophet Muhammad's family.
Visitors can cross a bridge to get to the following gallery. It represents a transition from the period of ignorance to the time the Prophet got the revelation of Islam. The hall has only one section, which is located on the first floor. It is very interesting, and you shouldn’t miss adding this museum to your planned list of tourist places in Saudi Arabia.
5. Islam and the Arabian Peninsula
The past of the Arabian Peninsula is focused in this hall, from the spread of Islam following the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to World War I, when the Ottoman Empire was overthrown. This amazing hall has six sections and is located on the first floor. It is one of the top attractions of Saudi Arabia.
6. First and Second Saudi States
Here you can enjoy the history and culture of the two Saudi nations between 1744 and 1824. Behind the glass, there is also a model of Diriyah, which is large and very beautiful. This astounding hall has two sections and is located on the first floor.
7. Unification of the Kingdom
King Abdul Aziz is the single topic of this hall, with a detailed account of how he reclaimed Riyadh and founded his kingdom in 1902. The hall also shows the founding of the Third Saudi State. The hall has only one section, which is located on the first floor.
8. The Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques
The model of Makkah and its surroundings is the treat in this hall. If you are interested in these types of exhibitions, here you will find the best things to do in Riyadh.
The exhibition shows the significance of the Hajj, the Masjid al-Haram Mosque, and the Masjid al-Nabwi. You can also see a demonstration of how King Abdul Aziz contributed to the building of these structures. The hall has five sections and is located on the first floor.
Basic Details
Location: King Saud Road, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Opening hours: From 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. No entrance after 4:00 p.m. on Fridays.
Entry fee: Around SAR 10.
Facilities: Separate restrooms for men and women, air-conditioning, ever-helpful staff at the museum’s reception, etc.
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