Saudi Ministry of Culture signs MoU with Asyad Holding for Riyadh cultural landmark

Announced at the Cultural Investment Conference 2025, the project is part of the government’s push to attract private sector investment into the Kingdom’s cultural sector and strengthen Riyadh’s position as a regional cultural hub. SPA
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Updated 30 September 2025
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Saudi Ministry of Culture signs MoU with Asyad Holding for Riyadh cultural landmark

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum of understanding with Asyad Holding, leading a consortium that includes Spark Lab Saudi Arabia and Lamar Investment Holding, to develop a multi-purpose cultural landmark in Riyadh. 

Announced at the Cultural Investment Conference 2025, the project is part of the government’s push to attract private sector investment into the Kingdom’s cultural sector and strengthen Riyadh’s position as a regional cultural hub.

The agreement aligns with the objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Culture Strategy, which aims to make culture both a way of life and an economic driver, supporting Vision 2030 goals to diversify the Kingdom’s economy.

The landmark will house a talent and business incubator serving film, music, theater, and visual arts enterprises. It will offer access to tools, equipment, and spaces for production, innovation, and creative development, while helping cultural entrepreneurs market their work and expand their reach. 

The initiative aims to boost the sector’s sustainability and create new investment opportunities with strong economic potential.

Under the MoU, the consortium and the Ministry will also collaborate on developing new programs to foster sectoral growth and establish partnerships with leading companies and international experts in cultural industries.

The agreement represents one of the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to encourage private sector participation in the cultural sector, creating diverse investment opportunities that maximize the value of cultural assets and advance the objectives of the National Culture Strategy.


SIDF concludes participation in Momentum 2025

Updated 11 December 2025
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SIDF concludes participation in Momentum 2025

RIYADH: The Saudi Industrial Development Fund concluded its participation in the Development Finance Conference Momentum 2025 organized by the National Development Fund under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, prime minister and chairman of the NDF board.

The event was held from Dec. 9 to 11 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

The conference provided a platform to explore the future of development finance and its role in supporting sustainable growth. It brought together leading thinkers, investors, and decision-makers from around the world to discuss key challenges and opportunities, and to exchange experiences that enhance financing tools and maximize their developmental impact.

SIDF participation underscored its active role in supporting economic development through its financing advisory and knowledge-based programs as well as its diverse initiatives designed to meet the needs and aspirations of manufacturers and investors, aligning with the Kingdom's objectives and Vision 2030 targets.

In a panel discussion on the sidelines of the conference, Prince Sultan bin Khalid bin Faisal, CEO of SIDF, highlighted that the fund has, for more than 50 years, continued to develop its financing and advisory tools to empower national industries and enhance their global competitiveness.

He noted that SIDF has supported more than 4200 projects with total disbursements exceeding SR150 billion ($40 billion), attracting investments of nearly SR800 billion.

Prince Sultan added that the fund is currently focused on creating new financing channels in collaboration with government and private entities to provide sustainable funding for the private sector through mechanisms that attract capital and investors.

He said: “We recently launched the world’s largest supply chain financing program in collaboration with Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Electricity Co., benefiting thousands of suppliers and factories.”

SIDF participation culminated in signing a cooperation agreement with the Saudi Arabia Railways to identify opportunities for industrial sector support and to assist investors in localizing goods and services to increase domestic content.

The Momentum 2025 conference reflects the Kingdom's leading role across various development sectors, highlighting the contributions of its development ecosystem in shaping a sustainable developmental future that delivers economic and social impact in line with Vision 2030 objectives.

The conference serves as a platform for collaboration that advances the implementation of development finance solutions, bringing together leaders from government entities, development finance institutions, investors and innovators from within the Kingdom and abroad.

It aims to strengthen partnerships that align capabilities across the system and translate developmental priorities into actionable initiatives, fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.