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Newly established university for arts and culture in Riyadh

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Newly established university for arts and culture in Riyadh - The first university in the MENA region dedicated entirely to arts and culture. We are seeking visionary senior leaders to help shape this pioneering institution.

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Partners
Newly established university for arts and culture in Riyadh
Sector
Higher Education
Location
Saudi Arabia

Open Roles

Provost

Vice Provost Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Dean, School of Design and Visual Arts

Director, College of Visual Arts and Photography

Dean, Student Affairs

A letter from the Founding President

I am delighted to introduce a new and exciting initiative by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Riyadh University of Arts – a specialized Arts & Culture higher education institution, and the first of its kind in the MENA region. ​

This new University sits at the heart of KSA’s transformation agenda and is designed to significantly increase opportunity across all the cultural and creative sectors, ranging from Theater, Film, Music, Literature, Heritage, to Architecture and Design, to the Visual and Culinary Arts. In terms of access, RUA will offer a full spectrum of programs from vocational courses to PhD in a variety of modes. ​

 

Innovative and entrepreneurial in outlook, the Riyadh University of Arts will accelerate the next generation of creative leaders and practitioners who will join a growing dynamic cultural hub. Also building upon the values of academic freedom, social responsibility and cultural enrichment, the University will play a key role in both celebrating KSA’s rich heritage and in helping shape its future. ​

We are now seeking to appoint an outstanding individual, who is excited by and committed to taking this vision forward and to contributing to the transformation of cultural education across the Kingdom. You will be joining a fast moving, challenging and rewarding place to work. I warmly invite you be part of this amazing startup journey.

Living in Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Located in the heart of the Arabian peninsula, it is a key hub for finance, business, politics and culture. Initially a small desert town, Riyadh has now become a bustling metropolis with rapid modernization since the 1970s.

 

Further information about Saudi Arabia can be found at Explore Saudi Arabia – Visit Saudi Official Website

Rapidly growing cultural hub

Riyadh is investing heavily in arts, design, and culture as part of Vision 2030, with new museums, theatres, galleries, and creative districts opening at speed.

A global, connected city

With one of the largest airports in the Middle East and direct flights worldwide, Riyadh offers easy international connectivity while hosting a diverse expatriate community.

Modern lifestyle & opportunities

From world-class restaurants and shopping to new green spaces, entertainment venues, and major sporting events, Riyadh is transforming into a modern metropolis with high quality of life and exciting professional prospects.

  • The work week in Saudi Arabia is Sunday to Thursday
  • The work culture in the Kingdom is result orientated with standard working hours being 8/9am to 5/6pm
  • Standard and conservative business attire applies. It is advised that female expats review the requirements for obtaining an abaya, as it is mandatory in certain places, such as some government offices
  • Saudi males typically wear a thobe (white robe) and shemagh (traditional head scarf) Saudi females typically wear an abaya (a long, loose-fitting robe)
  • Working hours are reduced during Ramadan to ~6 hours. It is common to restart work or hold meetings in the late evening, after Iftar (breaking of fast).

  • A residency visa (Iqama) is required for all expats and is obtained through work sponsorship. Employers will cover the administrative costs and details
  • The process takes a week or two and requires fingerprinting, medical tests and documentation
  • An Iqama serves as a residency permit, ID card and work authorization
  • An Iqama is required to rent accommodation, get a car, open a bank account and perform all government and administrative tasks
  • An exit-entry visa is required with there being single and multi exit-entry options of varying durations. Annual multi exit-entry visas are recommended.

  • Expats in Riyadh typically live in compounds with Western-style amenities. They are popular as it allows for expats to live together and for communities to be formed. Examples include Al-Nakhla Resort, Antara Compound (pictured), Olaya Oasis and Al-Bustan Village Compound
  • Others can choose to live in apartments or villas which can be equally as luxurious as compounds. Popular expat neighborhoods including the Diplomatic Quarter (DQ), Olaya, Diriyah, An Nakheel, Al Malqa, An Narjis and Hittin
  • Leases are normally signed on a year-by-year basis with biannual or annual payments rather than monthly. Water and electricity are normally not included in rent.

  • Most expat families enroll their children into Riyadh’s embassy or private international schools that follow western curricula e.g. the British curriculum (GCSEs, A-Levels), US curriculum (US Common Core), IB curriculum or the French curriculum (Brevet, Bac)
  • Demand for spots is high so early application is encouraged. Interview and entrance exams may also be needed
  • Fees can range from SAR 40-100k per year depending on the school and grade level.

  • Riyadh has an ever-growing list of entertainment options ranging from dune-basing to concerts
  • There is Riyadh Season that has a seasonal number of events ranging from theatrical performances to heavyweight boxing title fights. All listings are on mobile app (we book)
  • There are multiple arts activations across the city and other cities in the kingdom, such as Noor Alriyadh, Alula Arts, Misk art week, Riyadh Art fair, Diriyah Biennale,
  • Islamic Biennale, Ithra festival.
  • There is a local standup comedy hub that hosts weekly shows in both Arabic and English languages. (Comedy pod)
  • There is the annual MDL Beast music festival that brings global superstars like David Guetta, Metallica and Travis Scott to Riyadh
  • Cultural landmarks Masmak Fort & Souq and Diriyah, the ancestral home of the House of Saud, are a must visit
  • Watching a football match is a great activity with footballing legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar playing for Riyadh teams Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal respectively.

  • Most compounds have gyms as a part of their facilities
  • Padel is very popular with many places to play in the city (e.g. Valley Padel in Wadi Hanifah pictured)
  • There are two primary golf courses in Riyadh: Riyadh Golf Club (pictured) to the North and Dirab Golf Club to the South
  • Wadi Hanifah and DQ, and Sports BLVD have walking and cycling tracks
  • There are several open-air areas that are used for walking when the weather is good e.g. Riyadh Front, Boulevard with malls also being used when it is too hot
  • There are diverse range of sports centers across the city, such as Snooker, E-sports, Tennis and Paddle, football, chess, martial arts and others.al respectively.