Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and the United Kingdom’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport have jointly announced that 2029 will be designated as the Saudi–British Cultural Year. The announcement was made during the official visit of His Royal Highness Prince William, Prince of Wales, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This milestone reflects the strength of the longstanding relationship between the two nations, rooted in more than a century of cooperation. Over time, these ties have evolved into a broad and dynamic partnership spanning culture, education and innovation, built on shared values and a mutual commitment to a long-term strategic future.

In recent years, Saudi–British cultural collaboration has gained remarkable momentum, becoming an important pillar of the wider bilateral relationship. Joint initiatives have expanded across heritage preservation, visual arts, culinary arts, architecture and higher education, creating new opportunities for dialogue, knowledge exchange and creative development.

This growing engagement has helped lay the foundations for the Saudi–British Cultural Year 2029, which will run across a full calendar year celebrating artistic collaboration, shared heritage and cultural discovery. The initiative is expected to strengthen connections between institutions, artists and communities in both countries, while encouraging new forms of creative partnership.

The Saudi–British Cultural Year 2029 marks a significant step forward in the cultural relations between the two friendly nations. It aligns closely with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030 and reflects the United Kingdom’s continued commitment to supporting innovation and fostering cultural exchange.

As both countries look ahead, the Cultural Year offers an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding, build lasting partnerships and create meaningful opportunities that will benefit future generations in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom alike.