Excursion Discovering ithra tour at Dammam

Explore the many wonders of the expansive Ithra Cultural Centre during this captivating, half-day sightseeing tour.

Dammam, Dhahran, Ithra Cultural Centre

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 30-minute drive to Dhahran, and a visit to the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra Cultural Centre). Built and operated by Saudi Aramco and inaugurated by King Salman bin Abdulaziz in 2016, the Ithra Cultural Centre is located on the site of the first commercial Saudi oilfield found in 1938. Its jaw-dropping shape was designed to minimize adverse ecological impact and represents a throng of oil-bearing rocks smoothed by desert winds, all wrapped in an approximately 1,148-foot-long (about 350-metre-long) steel pipe.

Guided Walking Tour, History, Evolution, Knowledge Tower, Teaching Rooms

Listed in Time magazine as one of the 'World's Top 100 Places to Visit', Ithra is a corporate responsibility initiative focusing on culture, learning, and cross-cultural activities. Upon arrival, take a guided tour of this expansive, approximately 80,000-square-foot (about 7,432-square-metre) facility, whose unique interior design was inspired by the internal structural shape of oil-bearing rock formations. The levels of the building are arranged thematically and intended to suggest a progression through the ages. The lower levels focus on the history and evolution of the Kingdom, whilst the upper levels comprise the Knowledge Tower, and include teaching rooms designed to educate and equip citizens for the future.

Museum, Theatre, Library, Cinema, Exhibition Galleries, Ideas Lab, Shopping

In addition to the Knowledge Tower, highlights to be seen during your guided walking tour include a museum, theatre, library, cinema, exhibition galleries, ideas lab, art installations and so much more. Such is the scale of Ithra's halls, and spectacular architecture, that you could spend an entire day exploring the many wonders of this marvellous facility. During your walking tour, some gift shoppes are also available to browse for local souvenirs. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 30-minute drive back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Dammam, Ithra Cultural Centre, History, Evolution, Knowledge Tower, Teaching Rooms, Museum, Theatre, Library, Cinema, Exhibition Galleries, Ideas Lab, Shopping

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking for approximately 1.86 miles (about three kilometres), at times over uneven surfaces and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and at the Ithra Cultural Centre; a lift is available. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe walking shoes, and bring sun protection, insect repellent, bottled water, a sweater or light jacket, and Saudi Arabian Riyals or credit cards for purchases from the ship. Please dress conservatively when going ashore; ladies always need to wear abaya, which are provided, and keep their knees covered. Proper attire is required to enter holy or religious sites; shorts and bare shoulders are not permitted. As a rule, women should never wear anything remotely revealing (miniskirts, shorts, capris, beachwear, and sleeveless or low-cut tops), and men should always wear shirts and trousers in public. Infrastructure in Dammam may be basic, and local conditions may be challenging; coaches, guides, hotels, restaurants, equipment, and services are the best-available in the area, but may not be up to the standards of those found on other ports. Local authorities might check again your passport, as well as the border number you received at the entrance in the country during the excursion; this might require some waiting time. All guests on excursion must carry their Muqueem Certificate, which they used to enter in Saudi Arabia. In addition, a Local Authorities Health questionnaire will be submitted upon arrival, and is required for all guests over two years old. This tour does not include inside visits to the mosques. This tour is available during mornings only. The tour sequence may vary.