- What it measures
- Site area as stated in the Foundation's 2022 launch releases (English and Arabic)
- Date
- May 2022
Why figures differ
How big is the Royal Arts Complex?
Is it 500,000 m², 320,000 m² or 300,000 m²?
Explained
Updated 12 Nov 2026
The figures, side by side
What each source says
- What it measures
- Site area in the 2019 launch text, repeated by Al Madina in Jan 2024
- Date
- Mar 2019
- What it measures
- Built area of the building complex as described by ArchDaily, not site area
- Date
- May 2025
- Source
- ArchDailyMay 2025
Why the figures differ
The three figures measure different things. The Royal Commission and the 2022 launch announcement give more than 500,000 m² as the complex's site. ArchDaily gives about 320,000 m² for the building complex of 13 structures designed by Bofill. MEED gives 300,000 m² of gross floor area for a 1.2 km series of buildings. Older Arabic text said more than 400,000 m².
What we show
Each figure is labelled as site area, building complex area or gross floor area. We lead with the Royal Commission's 500,000 m² site.
What would resolve it
A drawing set or Foundation fact sheet that gives site, footprint and gross floor area together.
Sources
Royal Commission for Ri…ArchDailyMay 2025Al MadinaJan 2024MEEDJun 2023Umm Al-Qura Gazette (SP…May 2022More figures explained
How big is King Salman Park?
Why do sources give the park's area as anything from 16.6 to 17.2 km²?
What does King Salman Park cost?
Is it $23bn, SAR72bn, $10bn, $25bn or $9bn?
How much private money is involved?
Is private investment SAR50bn, SAR150bn or $13bn, and how much is awarded?
How many investment packages are there?
Five committed, or one awarded?
How tall is the Museum of World Cultures?
Is the museum building 106 m or 110 m?
How many seats does the National Theatre have?
Is it 2,300 or 2,500?