The gorgeous Red Sea Museum is set to open its doors in December
The new museum will be located in the heart of Jeddah
Wake up in Jeddah, and it will be like you’ll feel like you’ve woken up inside a painting. Like the whole city belongs in a museum, and luckily, the beautiful Red Sea city is about to get one. Please join us in welcoming the Red Sea Museum in Jeddah.
Set to open its doors in Al Balad, Historic Jeddah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Saturday December 6, the new Red Sea Museum is set to be housed in the newly-restored Bab Al-Bunt building.
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The building, historically a regional landmark that once served as the gateway to Saudi Arabia, will now be dedicated to preserving and sharing the Red Sea’s tangible, intangible, and natural heritage, according to the Saudi Press Authority.
The museum will be blending together historic architecture with cutting-edge design, innovation, and inclusive storytelling. It brings the region’s stories of cultural exchange, creativity, and connection together through an inclusive museum experience using the latest museum design and technology.
The permanent collection at the museum features over 1,000 artefacts and artworks presented across seven themes in 23 galleries.
The seven themes include:
- Al-Bunt, which maps the history and transformation of the Bab Al-Bunt building itself
- Salam Upon the Sea, which explores the origins and cultural significance of the Red Sea
- Orientation, which unearths the navigation tools and methods used by sailors and travellers
- A Living Sea, celebrating the region’s biodiversity and coastal communities
- Sea of Abundance, charting the Red Sea’s maritime trade, cartography, and cultural exchange
- Sea of Faith, tracing historic journeys to sacred cities and iconic artefacts
- Sea of Inspiration, showcasing artistic interpretations of the Red Sea.
Historical artefacts, including Chinese porcelain, incense burners, coral, jewellery, navigational tools, astrolabes, maps, sacred manuscripts, and photographs, will also be on display alongside modern and contemporary artworks by Saudi, regional, and international artists, creating a bridge between past and present.
The first exhibition
The first-ever exhibition at the Red Sea Museum will be The Gate of Gates by Saudi artist Moath Alofi, curated by Philippe Cardinal, which documents the transformation of Bab Al-Bunt and its role as a gateway between past and present.
Public programs
Thinking about visiting? Visitors can look forward to a lively public program of workshops, masterclasses, talks, and panel discussions. Highlights include artisan training through Made in the Red Sea, collaborative sustainability projects such as Red Sea Art, and cultural performances, including Music of the Red Sea.
Tickets
Tickets are not available just yet; stay tuned to What’s On Saudi Arabia for the latest.
Location: Bab Al-Bunt building, Al Balad, Jeddah
