Culture Ministry releases seventh annual Saudi cultural status report for 2025

The Ministry of Culture today released the seventh edition of the "Cultural Status Report in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2025," its annual publication that monitors the state of the cultural sector over the past year and reviews key achievements and challenges across various cultural fields.

The report is structured into six main chapters: governance and preservation, cultural creativity and production, knowledge and skills, cultural participation, the creative economy, and a special chapter titled "A Decade of Vision," which focuses on the role of culture within Saudi Vision 2030.

Comprehensive overview of the cultural sector

The report examines the place of culture in Vision 2030 programs, highlighting the National Culture Strategy and its three pillars: culture as a way of life, culture for economic growth, and culture to enhance the Kingdom’s international standing. It also provides a thorough review of progress in the 16 cultural sectors and related creative fields over the past ten years, addressing institutional transformations and regulatory measures.

The report covers the challenges facing the cultural sector, highlights priorities for the coming period, and offers stakeholders a comprehensive overview of major achievements and developments.

Reliable indicators and data

The report documents efforts in cultural sector governance, heritage preservation, and Arabic language promotion, as well as growth in literary, audio, visual, theatrical, and artistic production, including local and international awards. It also covers cultural education and training programs, human capital development, and analyzes cultural participation, nonprofit organizations, and amateur clubs.

In the creative economy chapter, the report reviews economic indicators for culture, such as cultural professions, spending and revenues, and demand drivers for cultural products and services. Five appendices are included, among them a "Regional Appendix" that presents indicators for each region of the Kingdom.

Reference for researchers and decision-makers

The report draws on centralized data from the cultural ecosystem, government and private entities, a cultural participation survey based on UNESCO standards, and discussion sessions with experts and academics to interpret quantitative data and analyze the sector’s status.

The Ministry of Culture affirms that the report serves as a reference tool to support regulatory decisions and strategic planning for public and private institutions, benefiting researchers, entrepreneurs, and those interested in cultural affairs, while continuously monitoring and documenting sector developments to fulfill the ambitions of Vision 2030.

Interested readers can view and download the full report at: Cultural Status Report 2025.