The National Museum of Saudi Arabia announced that it will reopen its doors and resume its activities, following closure as part of precautionary measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), aiming to provide a safe and enjoyable experience to visitors. The museum will be receiving visitors as of Wednesday, June 16, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursdays, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays while being closed on Sundays. The National Museum's policy requires visitors to present the Tawakkalna application at the entrance gate and follow the precautionary measures by wearing masks and leaving a safe distance between visitors. During the upcoming period, the National Museum will host a number of temporary exhibitions, including one on Arabic calligraphy, scheduled to be held from Wednesday, June 16, until Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. The exhibition will highlight the origins of Arabic script and the development of the art of calligraphy. The Saudi National Museum is a prominent national cultural landmark in the Kingdom, located on the eastern side of King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Al-Murabba, Riyadh. It was constructed in 1999, the museum's building is architecturally responsive to the composition and size of the historic buildings adjacent to the palaces of King Abdulaziz. The museum's exhibits are distributed over eight main halls arranged in a historical sequence, starting from the creation of the universe to the modern era, and adopting the Arabian Peninsula as its main theme. The halls include Man and Universe, Arab kingdoms, Pre-Islamic Era, Prophet's Mission, Islam and Arabian Peninsula, Saudi First and Second state, Unification of the Kingdom, and Hajj and the Two Holy Mosques. Each hall exhibits a different independent and integrated theme of art. The Saudi National Museum aims to promote the sense of national belonging, raise public awareness, highlight the importance of documentation, and introduce the Kingdom's culture, history and relationship with ancient civilizations. It also seeks to present the Saudi antiquities and communicate its cultural wealth through archaeological and heritage exhibits. This is in addition to considering educational needs compatible with the curriculum at various levels and establishing a link between museum exhibits and the curriculum through providing educational aids in museum halls. — SPA
