The facade of Tuwaiq Tower in Riyadh has been transformed into a giant mural featuring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a work considered one of the largest murals executed on a building facade in the region and the world, with those behind it aiming to register it in the Guinness World Records.

The work extends across the facade of the tower, which stands about 305 meters tall, placing it among the capital's skyscrapers, with colors inspired by heritage, attempting to merge architectural identity with public art.

Saudi mural artist Badr Al-Balawi told Asharq Al-Awsat about the source of the idea: 'The idea to execute the mural came from the tower's owner, businessman Ibrahim Al-Muhaidib, who wanted the tower, known for its heritage character, to host a work embodying the Crown Prince's image while preserving the building's visual identity.' He added, 'The goal was for the colors to harmonize with the tower's heritage character and for it to become the world's tallest mural, given that the tower stands over 300 meters tall.' Al-Balawi explained that executing the project took 31 days of continuous work, using cranes, special equipment, and materials designed for outdoor work, noting that 'the project's scale posed various technical and field challenges, as we dealt with unprecedented height, using 4 cranes, paints, and auxiliary equipment to complete the work, making this experience different from any project I have executed before.' Al-Balawi says the mural is nominated for entry in the Guinness World Records, noting that the project aims to set a global record for a mural executed at such a towering height.

Al-Balawi expressed his joy at the public's interaction with the work, which gradually changed as execution progressed; the idea was not clear in the first days before the image's features began to appear. 'At first, people saw only lines and did not grasp the nature of the work, but as the features became complete, interaction increased significantly, and many began visiting the site to see the mural up close.' The mural, which has become a focus of visitors and social media users in recent weeks, reflects the growing presence of public art in Saudi Arabia's urban landscape, with artists executing works on an unprecedented scale that combine national identity with the ambition to achieve global records. Badr Al-Balawi stressed that the enormity of the work cannot be grasped from images alone, adding: 'Only those standing below the tower can realize the project's size and true height; images do not convey the sense of its immensity.' The work was accompanied by widespread interaction on social media platforms, and Al-Balawi said he was more focused on completing the work, as he has over 10 years of experience in mural painting, completing more than 150 murals in Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries, in addition to participating in events related to the World Cup finals, and executing works on high-rise towers and structures. The artist commented that the Tuwaiq Tower mural represents a turning point in his professional career, not only because of its size but also because of the personality it embodies: 'This project changed my view of mural art, because painting a figure of the size and status of Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a very great responsibility, and I was constantly wondering: Can I complete this work in a way that befits him?' Tuwaiq Tower is one of the most prominent landmarks in Riyadh, distinguished by its design inspired by traditional Najdi architecture and light earthy colors reflecting Saudi Arabia's cultural and historical identity, while simultaneously incorporating heritage motifs and a contemporary engineering structure. The mural has added a new artistic dimension to its facade, turning it into a visual landmark that attracts visitors and photography enthusiasts.