Hayy Jameel

About Hayy Jameel

Hayy Jameel is Art Jameel's dedicated arts complex and creative hub in Jeddah, opened to the public on December 6, 2021. The name Hayy means neighbourhood in Arabic and describes the centre's community-oriented purpose. Designed by waiwai, the three-storey building brings exhibitions, cinema, learning, production and locally run creative businesses into one destination in Al Muhammadiyah. Hayy Jameel is not a single museum gallery: it is an active cultural campus whose programme changes across art, film, workshops, performances and community events. The official visitor information describes the complex itself as open-access and free for all.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What's inside

Hayy Arts anchors the complex with curated museum-style exhibitions by Saudi and international artists and designers. Hayy Cinema is Saudi Arabia's first independent audiovisual centre and includes a main theatre, a community screening room, a multimedia library and educational space. Hayy Learning, Hayy Explorers, Hayy Studios and Hayy Makers support education, children's programmes, making and creative production. Fenaa Hayy hosts performances, workshops and talks, while Saha is the central community courtyard. The official floor guide also maps resident galleries, design and performance organisations, shops and a baking academy across the ground, first and roof floors. The exact spaces accessible on one visit depend on the current programme and resident schedules.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

How long to spend

Allow about ninety minutes for an introductory Hayy Jameel visit that combines the building, Saha courtyard and one current exhibition. A cinema screening, workshop, talk or performance requires its full advertised running time in addition to that visit. The complex spans three floors and several independently programmed spaces, so trying to inspect every resident in one pass is unnecessary. Check the current programme first and choose one anchor activity, then leave time to explore the public circulation and courtyard. Visitors attending only a specific exhibition can make a shorter visit, while a film and exhibition combination can occupy much of an evening.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Season and crowds

Wednesday–Monday 14:00–22:00; Tuesday closed. These are the published hours for Hayy Arts and the Art Jameel Shop. Other resident spaces within the complex may have different schedules. Visit after checking Hayy Jameel's current programme because exhibitions, screenings, workshops and resident activities follow separate calendars. The official visitor page lists Hayy Arts and the Art Jameel Shop from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with Tuesdays closed, but it warns that other spaces within the complex may keep different hours. An early-afternoon arrival suits a quieter look at the building and galleries; an evening visit is more useful when paired with a scheduled screening, performance or event. Event-specific dates and admission arrangements can change, so confirm the exact listing rather than assuming the complex timetable applies to every resident.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Tickets

General access to Hayy Jameel is free for all visitors. General access to Hayy Jameel is free according to the official visitor page. That statement covers entry to the complex, not every film, workshop, performance, resident business or separately registered programme. Check the official What's On page and the named organiser before attending a timed activity. Do not purchase a general Hayy Jameel admission ticket from a third-party seller: the operator describes the complex as open-access. Cinema tickets, paid workshops and commercial purchases, when offered, remain separate from general entry.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Getting there

Hayy Jameel is on Arwa Bint Abdulmutalib Street in Al Muhammadiyah District, Jeddah. Taxis can drop passengers directly by the entrance. Free basement parking is accessed from Arwa Bint Abdulmutalib Street and operates during opening hours. Hayy Jameel is on Arwa bint Abdulmutalib Street in Al Muhammadiyah District, north Jeddah. The official visitor page provides a map pin and recommends taxi drop-off at the entrance during peak periods or large events. Basement parking is available during working hours, is accessed from Arwa bint Abdulmutalib Street and is free of charge. A wheelchair-accessible ramp is provided at the drop-off zone.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What to watch out for

All public areas on every floor are accessible by elevator. A wheelchair-accessible ramp is provided at the drop-off zone. Accessible toilets are available on the ground and first floors. Underground parking is available during opening hours. Hayy Jameel's galleries have conduct rules that matter even though general entry is free. Dress with consideration for local customs, do not touch artworks unless a sign invites interaction, and keep food and drink outside gallery spaces. Smoking is restricted to designated areas, pets are not admitted, and running, cycling and skateboarding are prohibited. Children under twelve must remain with an adult. The official page says all public areas are accessible by elevator and lists accessible toilets and a ramp at the drop-off zone. Strollers and backpacks may be restricted in galleries, so follow staff directions.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Photography

Personal photography and video are encouraged at Hayy Jameel unless signs indicate otherwise. The operator requires advance approval and accreditation for photo shoots and for professional video or camera equipment, so a casual camera policy should not be treated as commercial permission. Do not touch artworks, block circulation or disregard an exhibition-specific restriction while composing a photograph. Saha's courtyard, shaded walkways and the building's tall façades show waiwai's neighbourhood-centred design most clearly, while interior light changes through the open circulation.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Where it is

• 45 min

  24 min walk

  Red Sea Mall

  • Must see
  • Market
• 1 hr 30 min

  35 min walk

  Jeddah Corniche

  • Must see
  • Nature site
• 45 min

  35 min walk

  Mall of Arabia

  • Must see
  • Market

External links