Saudi Arabia and Britain declare 2029 as joint cultural year

Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom have announced that 2029 will be celebrated as the Saudi-British Cultural Year, marking a major cultural partnership between the two countries.

The announcement was made on Wednesday and coincides with Prince William’s visit to Saudi Arabia this week, underscoring the long-standing relationship between the two nations, which spans more than a century of diplomatic ties.

The joint initiative will focus on strengthening cooperation in culture, education and innovation, alongside collaborative projects in heritage conservation, visual and culinary arts, and architecture. The programme aims to encourage creative exchange and deepen cultural dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Britain.

Officials said the 2029 celebrations will highlight shared heritage and contemporary creativity, with the goal of building lasting connections between the two societies for future generations.

Separately, Saudi Arabia is also set to host the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT) in 2029. The conference is a key global forum for cultural dialogue and was first held in 1982.

Both initiatives align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy and reflect the Kingdom’s broader efforts to position culture as a central pillar of sustainable development at national, regional and international levels.