Saudi Aramco opened the $800 million King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran on Thursday, a large steel structure that aims to deepen knowledge and creativity among Saudi youth, according to reports.
According to Reuters, the center, known as “Ithra” (“to enrich” in Arabic) is located close to Saudi’s “prosperity well” that tapped some of the country’s first commercial quantities oil in 1938. It will boast a vast library, museum and multimedia theater. King Salman attended the launch ceremony, at which Saudi Aramco’s CEO Amin Nasser said the center aimed to fulfil Saudi’s Vision 2030 economic plan “with new knowledge frontiers.”
The ultra-modern looking structure was built to “mirror the flowing dunes and sculpted rock formations of the Saudi landscape” while blending “organically with the outside environment,” the Center said.
The Center is the first institution of its kind in the Kingdom bringing together multiple offerings under one roof to make a positive and tangible impact on the knowledge and cultural scene by building local talents in the knowledge and creative industries. Blending iconic architectural design with advanced technology, and unique learning methods with enriching programs, Ithra is an infinitely inspiring platform for explorers, learners, creators, and leaders. As a thriving hub of knowledge, creativity, and cross-cultural engagement, it will help support a nation rapidly transforming into a knowledge economy.
