The National Museum was established as a national landmark in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to contribute to the enrichment process of education, cultural awareness, and the development of long association with the citizens, and to be an eternal message. The National Museum occupies over seventeen thousand square meters on the eastern side of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center and the total area of the premises of the building, which is consisting of two storeys, reaches twenty-eight thousand square meters. The museum is providing an educational environment for different segments of the society and in multiple levels. The National Museum has a variety of exhibits including antiquities, documents, manuscripts, display boards as well as the use of latest means of multimedia displays in addition to documentaries and scientific films in many halls, as follows:

Exhibition Hall of Man and Universe

This hall reviews the scientific phenomena which show the greatness of the Almighty Creator in the creation of the universe and the factors affecting the earth’s surface as well as various patterns of life in different geological ages besides various environments of prehistoric man. The museum is displaying different kinds of rocks, meteors, mineral and fossils which indicate geological fluctuations since millions of years. Regarding preserving the environment, a special ward has been set apart for the wildlife in the Kingdom. As for the history of man in the prehistoric Arabian Peninsula, the museum is displaying the period in the form of antiquities and exhibits reflecting how he coped with the human environment and the old stone tools and methods of manufacture, development and housing models for human and rock-drawings of prehistoric man among others.

Exhibition Hall of Arab Kingdoms

The period extends from the 6th millennium BC to the history of Arabian Peninsula. The exhibits of this period are divided into three major wings beginning with the exhibiting the important historical and cultural elements. First wing is allocated for highlighting ancient civilizations that arose into Arabian Peninsula; the second wing is devoted to Arab Kingdoms of the middle ages. The third wing displays the period of late Arab Kingdoms. These wards are displaying many other antiquity items, modules, photos, images, maps, besides audio visual displays.

Exhibition Hall of Pre-Islamic Era (Age of Jahilia)

It highlights the Arabian Peninsula and its populations, important cities, industries and markets of that period, which were not limited to trade but as a political, cultural and commercial competition forum attracting and gathering poets and preachers from different tribes. Also it is reflecting pilgrimage journey in the ignorant times, as well as the important cities at that time and their pilgrimage practices. Beside it is highlighting the famous historical Year of the Elephant - A'm Al Feel military campaign, the year that witnessed the birth of Prophet Mohammad "God's blessings and peace be upon him" in 570 AD.

Exhibition Hall of Prophetic Mission

This hall includes paintings indicating the Prophet Mohammad's (God's blessings and peace be upon him) lineage as well as his family and his brief biography since his birth in Makkah until his migration to Al Madinah. The exhibited materials include manuscripts of holy Qur'an version and paintings and road maps of his migration from Makkah to Al Madinah. That besides, the corridor gives the presentation of the migration episode reflected through the audio-visual means with a masterly and distinct artistic production.

Exhibition of Islam & Arabian Peninsula

Exhibition in this hall highlights important periods of Islamic history starting from the arrival of Prophet Mohammad (God's blessings and peace be upon him) through the Madinah era Caliphs. It also presents the expansion and the prosperity in Umayyad era as well as the development of civilization and sciences in Abbasid, Mamluk and Ottoman era. Besides it displays the paintings, visual displays, photographs, images, maps and charts, manuscripts, coins, jewelry, various inscriptions and utensils in addition to audio and visual presentations.

Exhibition Hall of Saudi First & Second State

Represent an important historical period from the date of the Arabian Peninsula from 850-1309 H / 1446-1819 AD, highlighting the conditions of the Arabian Peninsula before the first Saudi State. Besides, Dir'iyah foundation of the charter, the consolidation of governance and security and prosperity of science as well as the Dir'iyah siege after founding of the second Saudi State , which was followed by its stability and prosperity and then the Riyadh Departure period. This portrays the paintings, photographs, display items, modern maps, manuscripts, documents, weapons, coins, and utensils in addition to the different visual presentation for the siege of the Dir’iyah.

Exhibition Hall of the Kingdom's Unification

This highlights the history of the modern Saudi State from the beginning of the Riyadh conquest by King Abdulaziz in 1319 Hijri corresponding to 1901 to the Unification of the Kingdom. In addition to the presentation of the modern architecture of all the regions which are tracking the beginning stages of consolidation and standardization of Najd and Al Qaseem, recovering Al Ahsa, restoration and consolidation of Hail and Al-Asir, Hijaz and then the declaration of the united Arab Saudi Arabia. In addition to this the wing illustrates the administrative system at King Abdulaziz era and the state organization and development as well as oil discovery story. The wing also includes the architectural models in the Kingdom in addition to scripts, weapons, rare books, documents, coins and various utensils. Besides ancient tools of education, heritage utensils, woolen tents a visual presentation telling the story of unification of the Kingdom can be seen.

Exhibition Hall of Al Haj & the Two Holy Mosques

Exhibition in this hall is focusing on the pilgrimage since ancient times to the present day, comprising five wards as the follows:
- Model of Makkah, holy rites and introduction to Al Haj rites.
- The old pilgrim routes in the Arabian Peninsula.
- The history of Makkah, its courtyard and the Holy Ka’aba.
- The history of Al Madinah and its courtyard.
- Al Haj throughout centuries until the present time and the role of Saudi Arabia towards the Ka’aba pilgrimages.

In this room "Exhibition of Haj and the Two Holy Mosques" the exhibits of variety of materials, including artifacts, heritage and manuscripts, documents, photographs, images, incarnates, maps and films are presented.                                          

Days of visit