Located within the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center in downtown Riyadh, the National Museum tells a story of a region that has fascinated explorers for centuries. The present-day traveler will be equally spellbound by the grandeur of the exhibits that bring out the best of Arabia’s past and present – from the early ages, millions of years ago, till the richness of the modern era. Modern Saudi Arabia was founded by King Abdul Aziz who unified the vast country and declared the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932. The museum relives the period, giving a vivid account of the founding of the state, with a collection of rare scripts, weapons, books, manuscripts and coins. Through these extensive collections, visitors will hear the story of a strong administrative system put in place by King Abdul Aziz ‘era’ and the discovery of oil during his reign. While oil may be the cornerstone of the Kingdom’s present prosperity, the Saudi state’s service to pilgrims has remained steadfast through the years. The exhibition highlights the development of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and Saudi Arabia’s committed services to pilgrims.
A sample of the cloth that covers the Kaaba in Makkah, with all its silk and silver splendor, is on display, along with a gold and copper Kaaba door dating way back to 1624 AD. Old pilgrim routes, including the Egyptian and Yemeni routes, give the visitor a keen sense of how the journey was made in the bygone era. The massive expansion projects at the holy sites during the period of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz reflect the strong commitment by King Abdul Aziz and his sons in the service of the holy sites and pilgrims.
The exhibition’s ‘Man and Universe’ section features classics from yesteryears: minerals, rocks and fossils; replicas of extinct animals from the Arabian Peninsula more than 15 million years ago; natural soils of Arabia; models and rock-drawings from the prehistoric period; a model of Tuwaiq Mountains; and ancient tools and pottery used by prehistoric man. ‘Arab Kingdoms’ is another fascinating section of the museum, covering the fourth millennium BC to the fourth century AD. It is a splendid display of ancient civilizations in Arabia, the Arab kingdoms of the middle and late ages. The exhibits include a reproduction of the Tayma Wall; fourth millennium BC stone slabs found in the Tabuk region; models of old panels bearing writings and symbols; ancient tools, glassware, combs, and pottery found in Al-Faw; and age-old artifacts from Madain Saleh, dating back to the Nabataean period. Other enthralling displays depict ‘Midian’ – the first civilizations in the early Arab kingdoms era, established in the second millennium BC in the northwest of the Arabian Peninsula, and a bronze lion’s head and paw found in Najran, going way back to the first century BC.
The ancient city of Thaj, an important discovery from the Arab Kingdom era, left behind several treasures, coins and artifacts. The museum further tells absorbing stories of prosperous Arab kingdoms such as Edom, Lihyan and Kindah, besides the southern kingdoms of Saba, Qataban, Hadhramaut, Minaean, and Awsan. The trade of the times included farm produce, spices, textiles, gold, and frankincense. Displays go back to the pre-Islamic era, covering ancient cities, trade routes and industries. Besides Makkah, the cities featured are Jerash, Khayber, Najran, Yathrib, Hajar Al-Yamamah, and Dawmat Al-Jandal.
A quick rundown on these cities will draw out their historical significance: Jerash in the Asir region was of economic importance due to its location along trade routes. The people traded in agricultural and industrial products such as fruits, grains, and vegetables, weapons and minerals. Khayber in the Hejaz region gained significance as an important stopover point for caravans. Its people grew prosperous by date palm cultivation and craftsmanship. Shields, swords and spears were some of the major goods used for trade. Najran was a crossroad point for the incense route. Caravans from Yemen stopped at Najran and carried on the journey, taking either the northern route to Egypt and Levant, or the northwestern road to the Gulf. Yathrib has been known from the advent of Islam as Madinah, and dates back to the sixth century BC. It was inhabited by two main Arab tribes, the Aus and the Khazraj. Hajar Al-Yamamah, a pre-Islamic city in Wadi Hanifa, was an abode of the Hanifa tribes. It developed over the years to become an important marketplace for Arabs. Dawmat Al-Jandal in the northwest of Arabia was another important stropping point for caravans. It holds archeological significance mainly due to the three sites of Majed castle, the Dawmat Al-Jandal Wall, and the Rajajil Pillars. Moving on, the exhibition vividly depicts the emergence of the Arabic script and the oldest alphabets – the Ugarit and the Phoenician alphabet. Arabic poetry and markets in the pre-Islamic era are featured, including the Okaz Market in Taif, Al-Majaz in Makkah, Dawmat Al-Jandal, Najran, Habasha, and Mushqaer.
The life of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), including his family, birth and migration to Madinah, are brilliantly featured at the exhibition, besides Holy Quran manuscripts, paintings and road maps of the migration. A section dedicated to Islam and the Arabian Peninsula portrays the Islamic era, beginning with the Prophet (peace be upon him). The major battles, Badr, Ohod, and Al-Khandaq, are represented with a true sense of the times. The Umayyad Caliphate era and the beginning of the Abbasid era are other highlights, in addition to industries such as pottery, medicine, and astronomy; Arab contributions to science; stone carvings of Islamic calligraphy; Islamic sites, Ar-Rabadha and Al Mabiyat; and a model of the Ottoman Castle on the pilgrimage route from Egypt.
These captivating exhibits of Saudi Arabia and the peninsula are showcased in the National Museum, giving you a deep insight into the region. If you are a history enthusiast and fascinated by everything that is Arabia, this is the place to go.

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