A 17-day magic light festival in Riyadh in March will turn the Saudi capital into a vast art gallery of astonishing 3D exhibits, projections on buildings, sculptures, interactive performances, and outdoor installations, with additional safety measures in place.

Workshops, debates, tours, presentations, volunteer programs, cinematic and musical events, and recreational and educational activities will also be part of the Noor Riyadh festival.

“It aims to improve the city's quality of life in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals, as well as to enhance the city's cultural and artistic aspects, by transforming Riyadh into an open art gallery that blends the traditional and the contemporary,” said Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture.

The festival, according to Prince Bin Farhan, aimed to improve community interaction, spread art and beauty throughout the city, and enrich the daily lives of its residents and visitors by promoting art in public places and the local art movement, as well as encouraging more creativity and innovation.

The festival will feature lighting artists from more than 20 countries, with nearly half of them coming from Saudi Arabia. Ahmed Mater, Lulwah Al Homoud, Ayman Zidani, Rashed Al Shashai, and Maha Mallouh represent the Kingdom. Daniel Buren, Carsten Holler, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Yayoi Kusama, and Dan Flavin are among the prominent foreign artists taking part.