In the vast deserts of Dhahran lies the birthplace of an era that reshaped not only Saudi Arabia, but the world. It was here, in 1938 at Well No. 7, that oil was successfully discovered following years of perseverance, geological exploration, and close collaboration between American geologists and Bedouin guides. This monumental discovery launched Saudi Arabia into the modern age, turning a remote landscape into the heart of global energy. The site remains layered with rich geological formations, early wells, and industrial remnants that continue to speak to a transformative moment in history one that blended tradition, resilience, and ambition.

The design of the Prosperity Project began with the land. By carefully analyzing site forces and existing topography, a series of natural and cultural assets were identified including geological outcrops, early wells, and industrial remains. These assets became nodes within the landscape, connected by a curving path inspired by the molecular structure of oil, a spatial translation of the very element that shaped the site’s history.

The journey begins in the rugged desert, where visitors follow the path once taken by the first explorers. It leads to Jabal Umm Ar Ru’us, the hill that first signaled the potential of oil and now offers panoramic views of Dhahran, a city born from that discovery.

Along the way, the Geological Outcrop becomes a space of education and performance, animated by both natural forms and cultural programming. At Well No. 1, visitors step into the narrative of early exploration, immersing themselves in the world of Bedouin guides and American geologists. The story culminates at Well No. 7, the pivotal site of the first successful oil strike, revealed after a winding tunnel journey that echoes the tension and triumph of its discovery. Here, the well stands as a memorial to perseverance, encircled by a reflective water mirror that magnifies its symbolic power.

Anchoring the experience is the visitor centre, a structure conceptually inspired by a drilling rig. Its architecture becomes a vertical timeline, guiding visitors through the site’s layered history. The lowest level represents the past, delving into the origins of oil through immersive exhibitions and sensorial encounters with the material itself. The ground level embodies the present, telling the story of the site through a geology-inspired design that blurs indoor and outdoor. Rising above, the upper level symbolizes the future, a space for innovation and projection, where visitors ascend via a multimedia elevator and arrive at the Peak, overlooking the evolving landscape of Dhahran.

The final sequence of the visitor journey brings together three distinct yet interconnected experiences. Visitors can ascend via a multimedia elevator, culminating at the Peak the highest point of the site, offering panoramic views and a moment to imagine its future. Then the Watch Tower provides a slower, contemplative descend, inviting personal reflection through direct engagement with the landscape. At the base, the Plaza acts as a crossroads a quiet, open space where visitors can choose their path forward or pause between past, present, and future.

By the end of the journey, visitors leave with more than knowledge. They carry a lived experience one that connects geology, heritage, and imagination in a place where the past fuels the future, and where every step tells part of a much larger story.