The National Museum of Saudi Arabia was established in Riyadh in 1999 as part of King Abdul-Aziz Historical Center. The Museum is a cultural and civilization center, with a focus on the history of the Arabian Peninsula and the message of spreading the Islamic faith. The sand dunes outside Riyadh inspired architect Raymond Moriyama to design the Museum’s forms and colors. The west façade represents a pointy crescent oriented toward the holy city Mecca. The Museum consists of eight galleries, arranged chronologically: Man and the Universe, Arabian Kingdoms, The Pre-Islamic Era, Prophet Mohammad’s Mission, Islam and the Arabian Peninsula, First and Second Saudi States, The Unification, and The Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques (this last one displays a large model of Mecca and its surroundings). It is an institution that’s very rich in facilities and exhibitions that create a modern educational environment, which any visitor will appreciate.
