With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 comes changes and one beacon of change stands tall in the Eastern Province: Ithra, a venue for transformative experiences that unlock the power of potential through mastery of arts, sciences, literature, and innovation. Dhahran’s skyline has finally gotten its own iconic skyscraper.
Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province is composed mainly of the triumvirate cities of Dammam, Alkhobar, and Dhahran. Other cities like Jubail and Ras Ta Nura complete the Kingdom’s center of industry founded on a very important commodity: oil. But more than oil, Dhahran’s newest attraction is cultivating a different source of energy: human energy.
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also popularly known as Ithra, is a project by Saudi Aramco that started in May 2008. Ten years later, Ithra opened in 2018. A collection of “stones” has risen from the sands of Dhahran and has become a tower representing Saudi Arabia: the underground for its past, the ground floor for its present, and the tower for its future. Norwegian architectural firm, Snohetta, spearheaded the impressive design. Guided by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, Ithra is one excellent and sustainable building admired by the world.
It can be quite intimidating to visit Ithra at first but it’s a must-see and so we drove to the area where the famous building was and found our way to one of its entrances. We spent a few minutes gawking at the building from the outside; we could have lasted longer if not for the Eastern Province’s very hot and very humid temperature. We sought shelter in Ithra’s well-insulated, fireproof, and soundproof space and found ourselves in its modern lobby.
Ithra features a lot of impressive areas including the 18-floor Ithra Tower, three-floor Idea Lab, exhibit floors, museums, 315-seat cinema, 900-seat theater, and our favorite, the four-floor library, one of the largest public libraries in the region. It is a bright, wide space that houses over 270,000 books in various themes and topics, in both Arabic and English. The Ithra Library doesn’t only carry printed books but also a wide array of electronic materials like audio books and e-books. If only we could spend more time there! There are sofas and seats conducive for reading, and a café to enjoy some drinks while at it.
The Ithra Museum will keep guests busy. It has four galleries dedicated to art, artworks, and artifacts: Funoon (Middle Eastern art), Ajyaal (Saudi art), Kunooz (Islamic art) and Rehlaat (Arabian Peninsula natural history). The museum has exhibits and rare collections that will enrich the knowledge of guests. It also holds the “Source” of Light”, a 90-foot high masterpiece by Italian master Guiseppe Penone is considered as Ithra’s spiritual heart representing the site where commercial oil was first discovered.
Ithra has something for everyone: the Ithra Children’s Museum is the first museum in the Kingdom for children up to the age of 12. There are plenty of activities, classes, and workshops to help unleash creativity and widen imagination. The museum has areas on science, environment, and Islamic art. Ithra also has the Idea Lab and Energy Exhibit.
When we were there, we saw Terra, an exhibit by international artists focused on sustainability. Each section, from the Rainbow Cave to the Water Diorama, was a unique experience for the senses. It was an awesome and informative art display that encourages guests to help save the environment.
Ithra is a must-see place when visiting the Eastern Province. It lives up to the meaning of its name: enrichment.
