In September 2025, the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) led its first UK Culture Delegation to Riyadh, coinciding with the inaugural Cultural Investment Conference (CIC), a landmark gathering that united leaders from government, business, and the creative industries to accelerate investment in Saudi Arabia’s growing cultural economy.
The visit marked an important milestone in UK-Saudi collaboration, reflecting a shared ambition to develop the cultural and creative industries as a key pillar of Vision 2030. The UK delegation, comprising senior cultural figures, creative-sector specialists, and investors, took part in a rich programme of meetings, discussions, and visits that explored opportunities for partnership, exchange, and growth.
At the Cultural Investment Conference, delegates joined more than 1,500 participants to discuss new investment models, the role of public-private collaboration, and the economic potential of culture as a driver for innovation and job creation. The discussions highlighted the importance of long-term collaboration and investment partnerships to connect UK creative expertise with opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s expanding cultural sector.
The delegation also engaged directly with leading Saudi institutions shaping the country’s cultural transformation. Meetings with the Royal Commission for AlUla, Royal Commission for Riyadh City, and Qiddiya highlighted ambitious plans in heritage conservation, design, performing arts, and cultural infrastructure. At AlMashtal, Riyadh’s creative hub, delegates met HRH Princess Noura Al Saud and explored spaces supporting artists, makers, and entrepreneurs, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing creative ecosystem.
The UK Culture Delegation underlined the increasing depth of UK-Saudi relations in the cultural sphere and SBJBC’s pivotal role in building bridges between both nations’ creative sectors. By linking businesses, investors, and policymakers, SBJBC is helping to shape an environment where culture drives innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth.
Looking ahead, SBJBC will continue to build on this momentum, supporting UK organisations and creative entrepreneurs to engage with the Kingdom’s evolving cultural landscape, and strengthening the shared vision of a vibrant, interconnected creative future between the UK and Saudi Arabia.
