Prince Mohammed bin Salman launches the Saudi Architecture Characters Map to celebrate the Kingdom’s architectural heritage

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, has officially launched the "Saudi Architecture Lexicon." Inspired by the Kingdom's diverse geographical and cultural features, the lexicon showcases 19 unique architectural styles.

The lexicon underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to celebrating the nation's architectural heritage, enhancing quality of life, and modernizing the urban landscapes of Saudi cities in line with "Vision 2030." This initiative aims to integrate Saudi Arabia's rich history and culture into contemporary architectural designs.

Prince Mohammed stated: "Saudi architecture blends our rich heritage with contemporary design concepts. We are improving urban landscapes and quality of life, and building an architectural framework that balances the past and the present. This model will serve as a source of inspiration for architectural design innovation globally." As Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the Saudi Architecture Design Guide, the Crown Prince emphasized that Saudi architecture reflects the Kingdom's cultural and geographical diversity and underscored the importance of sustainable urban planning that harmonizes with the local environment while integrating traditional architectural elements into modern designs.

Saudi Architecture aims to enrich the urban architectural diversity of Saudi Arabia, enhance urban landscapes, and empower local talent. It is projected to contribute over 8 billion riyals to the Kingdom's cumulative GDP by 2030 and create more than 34,000 direct and indirect jobs in the engineering, construction, and urban development sectors. The Crown Prince added, "Saudi Architecture will indirectly foster economic growth by making our cities more attractive to tourists, thereby stimulating industries such as tourism, hospitality, and construction. It also envisions a future where our cities and communities thrive."

The design of Saudi Architecture considers flexibility, providing developers with guidelines that allow the use of modern building materials without adding additional financial burdens. Each of the 19 architectural styles offers three design types: traditional, transitional, and modern, encouraging creative expression while preserving the authenticity of local Saudi architecture. These styles include Central Najd, Northern Najd, Tabuk Coast, Medina Countryside, Inner Medina, Hijaz Coast, Taif Highlands, Sarat Mountains, Asir Escarpment, Tihama Foothills, Tihama Coast, Farasan Islands, Abha Highlands, Bisha Desert, Najran, Al-Ahsa Oasis, Qatif Oasis, East Coast, and Eastern Najd.

The implementation of Saudi Architecture will be carried out in phases. The first phase will focus on Al-Ahsa, Taif, Mecca, and Abha, with initial applications targeting major projects, government buildings, and commercial structures. Collaboration between government agencies, engineering firms, and real estate developers will drive the implementation efforts of Saudi Architecture. Simultaneously, architectural design studios will support engineers and designers through engineering guidelines, training workshops, and skill development programs to ensure the highest standards of sustainability and quality.