Documenting smaller creative projects in Saudi Arabia that have worked — and the conditions that made them work. The tributaries that are building the creative economy.
We are producing interview-based profiles of creative and cultural projects in Saudi Arabia that have demonstrably worked — not in the headline sense, but in the sense that something was built, used, and has mattered to the people involved in it or affected by it.
Six to ten projects. Consolidated into a single document with a thematic summary that draws out the patterns — what actually makes creative projects succeed in this environment, and what others can take from it.
The output is intended for practitioners, investors, and policymakers active in the creative economy — and for circulation through the UKSA Creative Forum and the Global Cities platform.
Operating in the creative or cultural economy — venues, programming organisations, educational or skills-development initiatives, or private creative enterprises.
There is something concrete to evaluate beyond launch: audiences, participants, revenues, or demonstrable community impact. Not just a plan.
Saudi-led or significantly Saudi-shaped in execution, even where international expertise contributed to the outcome.
The people involved are prepared to discuss candidly what made the project work — including the constraints they overcame and what they would do differently.
For each project we conduct approximately five interviews, drawing on perspectives from across the project's structure — from conception to financing to community impact.
All interviews are recorded and transcribed. We use AI-assisted synthesis alongside our own analysis and editorial judgement. Subjects receive full editorial approval of their profile before publication.
1,500–2,000 words per project: context, design rationale, execution, what worked, and the transferable lessons. Approved by project subjects before publication.
All profiles with a thematic summary drawing out what actually makes creative initiatives succeed in this environment.
Distributed through the UKSA Creative Forum, the Global Cities platform, and directly to practitioners and policymakers in the Saudi creative economy.
Global Cities is a strategic consultancy focused on urban reputation and the cultural conditions that shape how cities compete globally. David has worked in the Saudi creative economy across cultural tourism, soft power development, and creative economy platform-building, including an advisory role on the NEOM project.
globalcities.co.uk →Amöl Projects is a consultancy focused on the alignment between a project's ambition and what its stakeholders are prepared to accept. Mark and David met when each was engaged on the NEOM project and have collaborated since around the promises and pitfalls of large project environments. Mark is currently based in Riyadh.
We are identifying projects for inclusion. If you are working on a creative or cultural initiative in Saudi Arabia and are prepared to discuss what made it work, we would like to hear from you.
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