King Saud University Museums

The first university to be established in Saudi Arabia was King Saud University and a number of its departments have their own museums, most of which are open to the public.

The Pharmacy College has a medical drugs museum which boasts a collection of Saudi herbs from which are extracted medical components. Open to men and women. More information on 01-467 7249.

In the College of Medicine there is an Anatomy Museum, full of body parts preserved in solution, together with plastic models of different human organs. Open to men only. Ring 01-467 0011.

The Zoology Department’s museum contains mammals, birds, insects, lizards and fishes and gives information on some of the studies performed on these species. Open to men only.

The Geology department in the College of Science has its own museum which has a good display of rocks, fossils and metal-bearing ores that can be found in the Kingdom. Telephone 01-467 6212 for more information.

If you are interested in archaeology, then one museum you will not want to miss is the Museum of Antiquities on the ground floor of the College of Arts. It has an excellent collection of artifacts from Qaryat al-Fau (from the pre-Islamic age) and Al-Rabzah (during the early Islamic civilization) which include pottery, glass work, textiles, metals and stone, as well as jewellery, statues and wall paintings. Most of the exhibits have labels in both English and Arabic. Here you will also be able to see the Prince Sultan collection of over 850 coins, though these only have Arabic labels. The museum is open for men only, but weekend visits can be arranged for families.

Most of the university museums are open from 8am until noon during term times only.

The easiest way to find the Museum of Antiquities is to drive into the large car parking area near Building 16. At the foot of a semi-circular tower (24 43.01’ N; 46 37.06’E) you will see a small door. Enter through here and the museum is close by on your right.

For the Medical Drugs Museum, park in car park 1 or 5 and go to the second floor of the Pharmacy college.

Next door is the Medical College. Go through the entrance next to the hospital, go up the stairs to the first floor and then along the corridor as far as it goes. The Anatomy Museum is on your left.

The Science colleges are located in the spine running from the Forum building, past the Library, and here you will find the Geology and Zoology museums.

King Saud University

Considering that the area occupied by King Saud University extends to some nine square kilometres, it comes as a surprise on one’s first visit that the academic area of the university takes up only a third of the space.

The original plan for the campus was drawn up in 1974, but it was to be ten years before completion at a total cost of US$4,000 million.

It includes 11 separate colleges, 15 related facilities, a mosque, and a central service complex. A road leads to the main entrance, or forum, which is surrounded by the central service buildings: the library, university centre, administration block, and auditorium.

From this forum extend three pedestrian malls running north, south and west which are created by palm-like columns forming arches which support the roof. The Colleges of Arts, Education and Administrative Sciences can be found along the western spine; Science, Engineering and Agriculture are situated along the northern spine; whilst Pharmacy and Dentistry are on the southern spine, which connects to the Faculty of Medicine.

To enhance its monumental architecture, the University commissioned sculptures in front of all the colleges and interior decoration of public places throughout the university – one of the most ambitious use of tapestries since the heyday of French chateaux in the 18th century.

The 16 metal sculptures by Daniel Grifin, an Arabic-speaking French sculptor, are based on instruments invented by Arabs.

 

One of the most striking is a flight of metal birds filling the upper reaches of the atrium of the library.

Don’t miss the ‘giant book’ sculpture near the southern entrance, and make sure you walk down some of the enclosed pedestrian malls connecting the facilities within each college.

*The College of Arts offers free Arabic lessons to foreign residents with courses starting every three months.

Driving north up the western ring road (King Khalid Road) north of the Diplomatic Quarters, you cannot fail to spot the university campus on your right.

This has by far the most impressive entrance which leads you directly to the academic buildings, as opposed to the other main entrances on King Abdullah Road and Imam Saud ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Mohammed Road – both of which take you to the accomodation areas.

The large ‘book’ roundabout is off King Abdullah Road, whilst the entrance off Imam Sa’ud Road boasts a roundabout highlighting the university crest.

The academic car parks tend to get very crowded in the day time, though you should have no difficulty finding somewhere to park. The problem comes when you’re trying to get out and someone has blocked your way!

Try parking in car park no 1 or 5 and wander up the stairs to the dental college to get a feel for the overall campus.

Western ring road entrance: 24 42.6’ N; 46 37.2’ E

King Abdullah Road entrance: 24 42.9’ N; 46 37.9’ E

Imam Saud Road entrance: 24 43.9’ N; 46 37.8’ E