In October 2025, the global map of cultural excellence expanded significantly on World Cities Day 2025, as UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay officially designated 58 new members to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Among this prestigious cohort were two of Saudi Arabia’s most significant urban centres: the capital city of Riyadh and the holy city of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. This dual recognition of two very different cities, signals the successful transition of Saudi Arabia into a global leader of varying creative industries. While the capital city of Riyadh was honoured in the category of 'Design' for its innovative urban architecture and digital landscape, Madinah was celebrated in the field of Gastronomy, joining Buraidah as the second Saudi city recognised for its unique culinary heritage.

Riyadh Expo 2030: Everything You Need to Know

Riyadh Expo 2030: Everything You Need to Know

2023-07/Riyadh By Night

Madinah via unsplash yusuf-mansoor

This designation is far more than a ceremonial title. It is a testament to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to diversify the economy by empowering local talent and preserving national identity.

By joining a network of over 400 cities worldwide, Riyadh and Al-Madinah have committed to sharing best practices and collaborating across borders to solve modern urban challenges through creativity. From the high-tech design incubators of the capital to the centuries-old date groves and spice markets of the Hijaz, these cities are now recognised as living laboratories where tradition and innovation coexist to build more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant communities.

Cities that joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2025 are:

Aberystwyth, Wales - Literature
Abuja, Nigeria - Literature
Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudia Arabia - Gastronomy
Andenne, Belgium - Crafts and Folk Art
Bistrita, Romania - Architecture
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso - Crafts and Folk Art
Celje, Solvenia - Literature
Cheongju City, South Korea - Crafts and Folk Art
Conakry, Guinea - Literature
Cuenca, Spain - Gastronomy
Daugavpils, Latvia - Design
Dumaguete City, Philippines - Literature
Echizen City, Japan - Crafts and Folk Art
Evian, France - Music
Faenza, Italy - Crafts and Folk Art
Gdańsk, Poland - Literature
Giza, Egypt - Film
Hebron, Palestine - Crafts and Folk Art
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Film
Höhr-Grenzhausen, Germany - Crafts and Folk Art
Kahramanmaraş, Turkey - Literature
Kashan, Iran - Architecture
Kelowna, Canada - Gastronomy
Kisumu, Kenya - Music
Korhogo, Ivory Coast - Music
Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia - Design
Kyiv, Ukraine - Music
La Spezia, Italy - Design
Lalitpur, India - Music
Liège, Belgium - Music
Lubango, Angola - Crafts and Folk Art
Lucknow, India - Gastronomy
Lund, Sweden - Literature
Lusail, Qatar -Architecture
Malang, Indonesia - Media Arts
Manizales, Colombia - Gastronomy
Masaya, Nicaragua - Crafts and Folk Art
Matosinhos, Portugal - Gastronomy
Nan, Thailand - Crafts and Folk Art
New Orleans, USA - Music
Nikšić, Montenegro - Music
Ponorogo, Indonesia - Crafts and Folk Art
Quanzhou, China - Gastronomy
Quezon City, Philippines - Film
Quito, Ecuador - Architecture
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Design
Rovaniemi, Finland - Architecture
Safi, Morocco - Crafts and Folk Art
San Javier de Loncomilla, Chile - Gastronomy
San Luis Potosí, Mexico - Literature
São Paulo, Brazil - Film
Sarchí, Costa Rica - Crafts and Folk Art
Sifnos, Greece - Crafts and Folk Art
Songkhla, Thailand - Gastronomy
Tangier, Morocco - Literature
Varna, Bulgaria - Media Arts
Wuxi, China - Music
Zaragoza, Spain - Gastronomy

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