Riyadh and Madinah designated as Global Hubs of Creativity in 2025 UNESCO expansion

In October 2025, the global map of cultural excellence expanded significantly on World Cities Day 2025, as UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay officially designated 58 new members to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Among this prestigious cohort were two of Saudi Arabia’s most significant urban centres: the capital city of Riyadh and the holy city of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. This dual recognition of two very different cities, signals the successful transition of Saudi Arabia into a global leader of varying creative industries. While the capital city of Riyadh was honoured in the category of 'Design' for its innovative urban architecture and digital landscape, Madinah was celebrated in the field of Gastronomy, joining Buraidah as the second Saudi city recognised for its unique culinary heritage.

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Madinah via unsplash yusuf-mansoor

This designation is far more than a ceremonial title. It is a testament to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to diversify the economy by empowering local talent and preserving national identity.

By joining a network of over 400 cities worldwide, Riyadh and Al-Madinah have committed to sharing best practices and collaborating across borders to solve modern urban challenges through creativity. From the high-tech design incubators of the capital to the centuries-old date groves and spice markets of the Hijaz, these cities are now recognised as living laboratories where tradition and innovation coexist to build more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant communities.

unesco.org