King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture - Ithra - Dharan

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture,  also known as Ithra is a museum located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. 

Architecture and History 

The center was built and inaugurated in 2016 with a focus on culture, learning and cross-cultural activities. The building was designed by a Norwegian architectural firm and is an amazing sight with its futuristic architecture. The center was also listed by the Time magazine as one of the top 100 places to visit in 2018. 

Entertainment

The museum is suitable for all age groups and inside the center, one can find a children’s museum, library, cinema, theater, exhibition halls, and a separate gallery for natural history.The theater inside the museum has a 900-seat auditorium.

The center hosts seasonal events, exhibits and workshops that people can sign up for on the museum’s website. An energy exhibit is held in a separate building which showcases multiple interactive displays and gives a detailed explantion about oil refining, production and the energy industry.

The building has a huge library where visitors can sit either to study or marvel at the architecture. Some restaurants and pop ups are also found in the vicinity. The trip to the museum can be very educational and enlightening. It provides an excellent learning opportunity in terms of culture and art especially for children.

The indoor activities are open until 10 pm but most sections begin to close down after 9 pm. Visitors should plan trips of 4 to 6 hours at least in order to experience everything the museum has to offer.