Central area
Al Safiyah Museum and Orchard
Al Safiyah Museum and Orchard… a complete cultural discovery experience
7:00 AM – 12:00 AM
- Family friendly
- Step-free
5 min drive8 min walk(approximate, from the Prophet’s Mosque)
City Guide
Arts & culture
The places and the people: museums and galleries, artists from Madinah, makers and craftspeople, workshops, exhibitions and the opportunities open to creatives.
Places
Museums, galleries and creative spaces
- Museum
- Heritage place
Al-Anbariyah & Al-Suqya
Hejaz Railway Station
Where the Hejaz Railway ended its journey south: a historic station and museum, a short ride from the central area.
Closed for refurbishment (2026)
- Family friendly
- Step-free
7 min drive20 min walk(approximate, from the Prophet’s Mosque)
- Museum
Al-Anbariyah & Al-Suqya
Dar Al Qalam — Arabic Calligraphy Museum
Follow Arabic script from early Qur’anic manuscripts to contemporary calligraphy at the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy, with galleries and workshops.
Free entry · book a visit online
- Family friendly
- Free
- Step-free
7 min drive18 min walk(approximate, from the Prophet’s Mosque)
- Museum
Eastern districts
Dar Al Madinah Museum
A private museum highlighting the history of Madinah, the Prophet’s Hijrah, and the city’s urban development through interactive exhibits
- Arts & culture
Wadi Al-Aqiq & Al-Qiblatayn
Madinah Literary Club
Lectures, poetry evenings and book launches for the city’s readers and writers.
Check today’s hours (opens in a new tab)
15 min drive(approximate, from the Prophet’s Mosque)
- Museum
Central area
The International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization
A permanent museum presenting the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the message of Islam through interactive digital experiences
- Arts & culture
Eastern districts
Society for Culture and Arts — Madinah
See an exhibition or a performance, or join an art workshop, at the Madinah branch of the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts.
Check today’s hours (opens in a new tab)
- Family friendly
33 min drive(approximate, from the Prophet’s Mosque)
- Museum
Central area
Prophet’s Mosque Architecture Exhibition
A visual journey through the history of the Prophet’s Mosque architecture
People
Artists from Madinah
Discover artists whose work reflects the architecture, memories, spirituality, and everyday life of Madinah.
Dia Aziz Dia
A quiet architectural scene capturing the traditional character of Madinah through soft colors, shadows, historic façades, and subtle human presence. The artwork reflects memory, place, and the intimate atmosphere of the city.
Fouad Maghrabi
An expressive and layered interpretation of Madinah’s spiritual and architectural identity, using geometric textures, rich tones, and recognizable city elements to create a vibrant contemporary composition.
Mohammed Siam
A lively depiction of Madinah’s historic urban life, featuring arcades, buildings, and people moving through the city. Warm colors and fluid brushwork communicate the energy and social life of old Madinah.
People & organisations
Makers, studios and cultural organisations
Profiles marked “Sample” show the format; real makers and businesses appear as they join.
- Organisation
Cultural organisation
Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts — Madinah
Exhibitions, theatre, music and training for the city’s artists.
- Cultural organisations
- Performing arts
- Exhibitions
- Organisation
Literary organisation
Madinah Literary Club
Poetry evenings, book talks and a library open to the public.
- Cultural organisations
- Literature
Organisation- Cultural organisations
- Calligraphy
- Workshops
- Organisation
Government
Ministry of Culture (opens in a new tab)
Cultural programmes, heritage and support for the creative sector.
- Cultural organisations
- Creative opportunities
CommunityCreative community
Madinah Creatives Network
A directory and network for artists, makers and designers. Join to be listed in the City Guide.
- Cultural makers
- Creative opportunities
- Creative spaces
CommunityCommunity initiative
Volunteer heritage guides
Residents who welcome visitors and tell the stories of the central area.
- Cultural makers
- MakerDummy text
Calligrapher & teacher
A calligrapher in Al-Anbariyah
Thuluth and naskh commissions, and Saturday classes for beginners.
- Calligraphy
- Workshops
- Cultural makers
CraftspersonDummy textTraditional craft · khoos
A palm-frond weaver in Al-Awali
Baskets, mats and fans woven from palm fronds on a family farm.
- Traditional crafts
- Cultural makers
Exhibitions, workshops, cultural events
Coming up
- Arts & cultureDummy text
- Free
- Family
- Arts & cultureDummy text
- Free
- Family
- WorkshopsDummy text
- Free
- Family
- Arts & cultureDummy text
- SAR 25 (sample)
- Family
Experiences
Make, learn, look closely
- ExperienceAbout 2 hours
Al Suqya
Try Arabic calligraphy at Dar Al Qalam
See the collection, then join the evening club and write your first letters.
- Free
- Family friendly
- Evening
2 stops · Dar Al Qalam — Arabic Calligraphy Museum → Arabic Calligraphy Club
- Experience1–2 hours
Across the city
A Madinah café evening
Specialty coffee and heritage cafés — follow the Coffee Shops Path to find where to go.
- Low cost
- Family friendly
- Evening
- ExperienceHalf a day
Central area & the west
Madinah arts trail
Calligraphy at Dar Al Qalam, the galleries at Safiyyah, the Artists from Madinah and an evening at the literary club.
- Free
- Family friendly
- Afternoon into evening
4 stops · Dar Al Qalam — Arabic Calligraphy Museum → Al Safiyah Museum and Orchard → Dia Aziz Dia
- Experience2–3 hours
Markets & Al-Awali
Traditional crafts experience
Blend your own perfume, shop the dates market and see palm-frond weaving on a farm.
- Low cost
- Family friendly
- Morning
4 stops · Traditional markets → An oud and perfume maker → Madinah Dates Market
Creative opportunities
Residencies, kiosks and volunteering
- ProgrammeOpenDummy text
Madinah creative residency
Three months to create from Madinah’s heritage — a residency for artists and designers.
- Sector
- Creative industries
- Location
- Madinah
- Size
- 8 residents
- Term
- 3 months
Deadline 3 Dec 2026
- SMEUpcomingDummy text
Café kiosks along heritage walks
Run a small café along the heritage walks at Quba and Uhud — units set aside for local operators and productive families.
- Sector
- Food & beverage
- Location
- Quba & Uhud
- Size
- 14 units
- Term
- 3-year licence
Opens 7 Nov 2026
- CommunityOpen · rollingDummy text
Volunteer heritage guides
Share the story of your city: welcome visitors at heritage sites on weekends. Training is provided.
- Sector
- Community
- Location
- Quba, Uhud, Hejaz Railway
- Term
- Weekend shifts
Open · rolling
Arts & Culture path
Go deeper
Featured path
Arts & Culture
Madinah’s story lives in its heritage, its museums and a growing creative scene. Discover it, join in and create — for residents first, and for every visitor.
Stories
Stories from the studios
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Heritage stories
Memories of the Madani home
Rawshan windows, courtyards and the rhythm of family life in the old city.
5 min read
Artists from Madinah
Three painters, one city
How the Artists from Madinah see the city: façades, the green dome and crowds in white.
3 min read
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Makers & craftspeople
Weaving palm fronds in Al-Awali
A family craft kept alive on the farms south-east of the centre.
3 min read