Saudi is building architecture that reflects its heritage – Here are our favorites
Tired of looking at the same-ish row of anonymous glass towers in every big city? Well, Saudi does things differently. This is a Kingdom with architectural heritage as diverse as its landscapes and a modern architectural movement that’s both futuristic and in touch with its past. The result is building with an embrace of traditional, region-specific styles and materials, with the latest in smart city tech. Anyone with even a passing interest in urban design or just good photo-ops is treated to a huge range of styles, approaches, and aesthetics, as well as new ideas around heritage, sustainability and livability. So, join us as we run down our five favorite pieces of uniquely Saudi modern architecture and also take a look at some future plans that are taking shape.
Our Top Five
Kingdom Center Tower, Riyadh
Ok, so – as befits the name – the Kingdom Tower is probably the most iconic modern building in the country and the one most people will think of first. But don’t let familiarity put you off. Designed by U.S. firm Ellerbe Becket and Saudi company Omrania, the tower is a defining, International Design and Development award-winning, Guinness World Record holding feature of Riyadh’s skyline. It’s also a great way to experience that skyline for yourself from its Sky Bridge, 300m (984 ft!) and 99 floors above the city. Visiting is easy too – it’s open from 10am to 11pm, every taxi driver will know how to get there, it’s right next to Al Urubah Metro station, and you can get both tickets and more information here.
Oh, and while you’re in the area, you can also check out some of Riyadh’s other modern icons, such as…
Qasr Al Hokm Metro Station, Riyadh
That’s right, in Riyadh the marvellous metro stations are destinations in themselves, and Qasr Al Hokm is one of our favorites. Designed by Snøhetta and recognised by the prestigious Prix Versailles, if you imagine someone dropped a massive diamond onto Riyadh, you’ll get an idea of what this station looks like. But don’t stop at the first glittering glance, get closer and you’ll see that the sparkling top of the station opens up into a subterranean garden with that mirrored canopy reflecting natural light down for the trees and plants growing underground amid adobe brickwork inspired by local Najdi architecture. Pretty spectacular (pretty and spectacular, actually!) but also designed with natural ventilation and rooftop solar panels to minimize the station’s carbon footprint. The station connects the Orange and Blue metro lines that criss-cross central Riyadh, and it’s also a great place from which to visit the legendary Souk Al Zal, historic Masmak Fort, and another Prix Versailles award winning metro station at Zaha Hadid-designed KAFD.
Let’s venture outside Riyadh a bit and to a building that literally reflects its surroundings. You’ve probably heard of AlUla – it’s the iconic Saudi heritage site with rolling sand dunes, towering mountains, and mysterious rock-carved tombs. What could modern architecture possibly add to this? A new perspective, in this case. Maraya (literally, “Mirrors”) was designed by Italian architects Giò Forma and is the largest mirrored building in the world and, despite its size, seems to appear and disappear as you approach. Inside, the building houses a cutting-edge theater that has hosted some regional and international musical greats, as well as an Andy Warhol art exhibition and a conference of Nobel Laureates. Visit the theater as part of a visit to AlUla itself – either independently or perhaps as part of the annual Azimuth AlUla or Wellness Festival.
King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), Dhahran
We’ve talked about Ithra before, but let’s take a moment to focus on its design as another modern Truly Saudi architectural icon. Designed by Snøhetta, Ithra is built of four “pebbles” forming an arch with the fourth pebble suspended as the keystone. This design echoes both the surrounding landscape and the idea that culture is inter-dependent, meanwhile the building itself is partially embedded in the ground, representing the past, and partially reaching toward the sky and the future. Meanwhile, the futuristic curved metal façade of the main buildings forms another past-future contrast with the ancient technique of rammed earth that creates the surrounding plaza. All this is a fitting architectural approach for a building that celebrates the traditional, current, and future of culture with an auditorium, a library of over 315,000 physical books, an exhibition hall, museum, and archive. Visit the Ithra website linked in the sub-heading to find out what’s on and when, and check out our own guide to Saudi’s Eastern Province to expand your visit.
From the Hajj Terminal, lets travel to the holy city of Madinah. First, let’s address any questions – Yes, non-Muslims are welcome in Madinah, which is a bustling city in its own right, with some limits on entering pilgrimage sites. But back to modern architecture: AlGharra was designed by local visionary Mohammed Ibrahim Shafee to “reimagine the mosque” as a place of “simplicity… while preserving natural aesthetics and utilizing locally available materials.” The building that takes visitors on a true journey through time to offer solace and inspiration while also showcasing some nifty heritage-inspired sustainability ideas. The mosque is designed to be both part of the desert landscape and a relief, with locally sourced volcanic stone walls allowing shade and air movement to keep the prayer hall cool, while also taking inspiration from traditional mosque designs. It’s a welcoming, kid-friendly place so do go inside if you’re in the area – keeping in mind the sacred nature of the place, though, do remember to dress respectfully and take your shoes off when you enter. You can visit Madinah from Jeddah by high-speed train and get visiting details from here.
Looking ahead
That wraps up our top five of the modern icons you can visit today, but there are more incredible sites and sights under construction right now, shaped by some groundbreaking new architectural guidelines. Launched in March 2025, the Saudi Architecture Characters Map features 19 distinct architectural styles inspired by the Kingdom’s regional heritage and is overseen by the Saudi Architecture and Design Commission. The map and the commission help developers use modern building materials creatively while preserving regional authenticity.
Want to get a sneak peak of what that means in practice? Check out the Royal Arts Complex in Riyadh, in the heart of King Salman park, the incredible urban oasis currently under development; the Asaan Museum Diriyah, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects to celebrate the Kingdom’s heritage in the historic At-Turaif district; these landscape-inspired desert dwellings in AlUla, where there’s soon to be another building there that mirrors (this time, architecturally) its surrounding heritage; or, last but definitely not least, the masterplan for Expo 2030, a celebration of modern Saudi’s transformation.
Inspired to see for yourself? Check out our portal to visiting Saudi and get a preview of some of the unique sights, sounds, and experiences of the Kingdom at Truly Saudi.
