Saudi Arabia's Largest Mural Eyes Guinness World Record on Riyadh Tower

Riyadh's iconic Tuwaiq Tower is now adorned with one of the region's largest murals, a striking portrait of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The massive artwork covers the facade of the approximately 305-meter-tall building, aiming to capture a Guinness World Record for its sheer scale.

“

He wanted the tower, which is known for its traditional character, to carry an artwork depicting the crown prince while preserving the building’s visual identity.

Saudi mural artist Badr Al-Balawi conceived the project based on an idea from the tower's owner, businessman Ibrahim Al-Muhaidib. The goal was to integrate public art with the tower's existing traditional character, using colors that complement its heritage-inspired style. Al-Balawi emphasized the ambition to create the world's tallest mural, given the building's significant height.

“

The aim was to use colors that matched the tower’s heritage-inspired style and to create the world’s tallest mural, given that the building rises more than 300 meters.

The creation of the mural was an intensive 31-day endeavor, requiring four cranes, specialized equipment, and materials suited for outdoor application. Al-Balawi described the project as presenting unique technical and logistical challenges due to the unprecedented working height. He noted that the scale was unlike any previous project he had undertaken.

“

The scale of the project created a range of technical and on-site challenges. We were working at an unprecedented height, using four cranes, paints and supporting equipment. It was unlike any project I had carried out before.

Public fascination grew as the mural took shape, with many visiting the site to witness its progress. The artwork has garnered significant attention on social media and reflects a broader trend of large-scale public art installations in Saudi Arabia, symbolizing national identity and global aspirations. Al-Balawi, who has over a decade of experience and more than 150 completed murals, considers this project a career milestone, particularly due to the prominent figure depicted and the immense scale involved.

“

This project changed the way I see mural art. Painting a figure of the stature and standing of Prince Mohammed bin Salman is an enormous responsibility.