What is Saudi Now?
Saudi Now is a British Council resource serving as a hub for UK-Saudi cultural collaboration. The platform provides insights, opportunities, and resources to help organisations engage with the evolving cultural landscapes of both countries.
As an umbrella for our work in arts and culture, we operate under the UK-Saudi Culture MoU, signed in March 2022 by H.R.H. Prince Badr, Minister of Culture, and the Rt Hon Nadine Dorries MP, then Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This agreement reinforces the UK’s role as a key partner in shaping Saudi Arabia’s cultural future.
In recognition of the far-reaching opportunities introduced by Vision 2030, the UK established the UK-KSA Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in March 2018, led by the UK Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Who we are
We support peace and prosperity by fostering meaningful connections, deepening cultural understanding, and building trust between the UK and countries worldwide.
We bring together the UK’s expertise in arts and culture, education, and the English language with a global presence spanning over 100 countries, unparalleled access to young people and influencers, and a legacy of creative innovation.
In 2024, we celebrate 50 years of British Council’s impact. Over the decades, we have empowered millions, cultivated enduring partnerships, and championed cultural exchange as a force for progress. We continue to evolve to meet the needs of a changing world while remaining committed to the principles on which we were founded.
We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence, and global connections they need to shape a better future. We support them in developing professional networks, fostering creativity, mastering English, accessing world-class education, and earning internationally recognised qualifications.
British Council has been working in Saudi Arabia since 1975, with a presence in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam and a reach extending across all 13 provinces of the Kingdom.
What we do
We’re committed to international development and the empowerment of individuals and communities through the arts – connecting the creative sector and audiences in Saudi Arabia with the best of UK contemporary arts.
Supporting artists
We’re passionate about helping young Saudis pave a career in the arts, and we support them with:
- skills development
- opportunities to showcase work
- networking.
We secure relationships with creative partners internationally to deliver exciting projects in Saudi Arabia across various art forms, including visual arts, theatre and dance, music, heritage, and fashion.
