Could Saudi Arabia be getting its own Louvre in Riyadh?

The Saudi Crown Prince hints at plans to develop a “large museum” in the capital.

Saudi Arabia has been on a mission to establish itself as a hub for all things entertainment, art, culture, and sports. And now, it might be getting its own Louvre Musuem.

In a recent BBC documentary, The Kingdom: The World’s Most Powerful Prince, Bernard Haykel, a professor at Princeton University, shared plans for the museum. He recalled his conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who suggested “building a very large museum in Riyadh”.

The rumoured Louvre in Riyadh will feature Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, the world’s most expensive painting, which the Crown Prince himself bought for SAR 1.6 billion ($450 million) in 2017. Haykel revealed that this masterpiece will be the highlight of the envisioned Louvre in Riyadh. 

Currently, Salvator Mundi is reported to be tucked away in a Geneva vault. And Haykel shares that MBS believes the painting will attract more art lovers and tourists to Saudi Arabia. The professor also claimed that the Crown Prince mentioned that if millions could visit the Louvre in Paris to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa, then another da Vinci painting would be expected to do the same for the Kingdom.

If plans for a Louvre in Riyadh come to fruition, it will signify another bold move for the country’s ambitions in the art world. It also aligns with the Saudi Vision 2030. 

Additionally, it will also mark the Louvre’s second outpost in the Middle East. Back in 2017, the UAE opened the Louvre Abu Dhabi, under a landmark agreement with France that allows the museum to use the Louvre name until 2047. 

While we await confirmation of the Louvre in Riyadh, stay tuned at FACT for all the insights.

GO: Visit www.visitsaudi.com for more information.