Riyadh has a new museum dedicated entirely to oil, and it’s now open to visitors. If you wanted to see how Saudi Arabia built its story around oil, you can now walk through it in one place. Black Gold Museum presents the story of oil through art, historical material, and visual narratives.
The museum has four sections. Each one focuses on a different part of oil’s history and its use over time:
- The story starts with oil at its most basic level, from its molecular structure to its discovery as a raw material
- The next section looks at how oil became a highly sought-after resource in the 20th century
- Another section focuses on concerns linked to heavy global dependence on oil
- The final section looks at how the relationship with oil may change
The legacy of oil is shown through more than 350 artworks. During your visit, you’ll move through past and present and see contemporary artworks appear alongside archival documents and visual material. Exhibits focus on oil, its uses, and its role in everyday life.
If you’re planning a visit, here are the opening hours of Black Gold Museum in Riyadh:
- Monday to Thursday: 10 AM to 10 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 4 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Curious what’s coming next? Check out these mega projects in Saudi Arabia, from NEOM to new football stadium developments across the Kingdom.
