The Hāʾil Regional Museum

The Hāʾil Regional Museum, commissioned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, will be operated under the Ministry’s Museum Commission. Dedicated to preserving and showcasing Saudi Arabia’s most significant collection of rock art and ancient inscriptions, the museum will serve as a cultural landmark.

The Cultural Collective was selected as one of two design firms tasked with developing master planning concepts to transform an existing building into the new museum. Hāʾil is renowned for its ancient rock carvings, and this museum aims to reflect the region’s deep-rooted passion for this art form. It will offer visitors a profound connection to Saudi Arabia’s rich history, illustrating the enduring link between contemporary Saudis and their cultural heritage.

The museum’s mission is to celebrate and share the beauty and historical significance of rock art and inscriptions while uncovering the human stories they encode. By deciphering the mysteries and messages left by ancient civilizations, it will serve as both a gateway to the past and an inspiration for the future, fostering a sense of national identity across generations.

Our team proposed an inquiry-based journey through time, where visitors explore the narratives embedded in rock art. Objects from the collection serve as anchors, guiding discovery and deeper engagement with the stories etched into stone.