Saudi Arabia’s ‘Houses of Culture’ Redefine Libraries, Enrich Local Communities

Saudi Arabia’s ‘Houses of Culture’ Redefine Libraries, Enrich Local Communities

The Saudi Culture Ministry’s Libraries Commission opened another “House of Culture” in one of Asir region’s provinces on Sunday, the second to open this month after one in the Eastern Region.

It’s part of a plan to revamp public libraries into vibrant cultural hubs in the area.

With Saudi Arabia’s cultural scene evolving since the launch of its National Culture Strategy, institutions are keen on embedding culture as a lifestyle.

They're focusing on enhancing the Kingdom’s library sector, with the first two cultural houses opening out of 153 planned across Saudi Arabia. These spaces aim to go beyond book storage, becoming platforms to uplift local communities’ quality of life.

In mid-June 2020, the Culture Ministry launched an initiative to upgrade public libraries nationwide.

The aim is to turn them into modern cultural hubs that cater to all segments of society, offering knowledge, participation, and interaction opportunities.

This move comes after a field study by the ministry on the status of libraries in Saudi Arabia.

Based on the findings, a development plan stretching until 2030 was crafted. The plan aims to establish 153 public libraries across all regions, all following the concept of “House of Culture,” blending library functions with cultural engagement.

On his part, Libraries Commission CEO Dr.