Diriyah Company has confirmed the awarding of a $490m (SR1.84bn) construction contract for the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), located in Diriyah, to a joint venture (JV) between Albawani Company and Hassan Allam Construction Saudi.
The announcement took place at a formal signing ceremony attended by executives from Diriyah Company, the Museums Commission and both contract-winning companies.
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Scheduled for development in the core of Diriyah, a key historical site, SAMoCA will cover 45,252m² of gross floor area and 77,428m² in total built-up area.
SAMoCA is an initiative under the Museums Commission, aiming to collect, research and display modern and contemporary art from Saudi Arabia.
The facility is designed by Godwin Austen Johnson with multidisciplinary support from Rafaat Miller Consulting.
The project recently achieved Mostadam Gold certification for sustainability in both design and construction phases.
Once completed, SAMoCA will serve as the museum’s primary hub for activities, complementing the existing space at the JAX Center in Riyadh’s creative district.
The contract award supports Diriyah Company’s plan to establish the area as a prominent cultural and tourism centre.
The broader Diriyah development, valued at $63.2bn, has so far granted more than $29bn in construction contracts and is forecast to contribute $18.6bn to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and generate over 180,000 jobs.
The project is expected to accommodate around 100,000 residents and attract 50 million visits each year. Plans include museums, retail districts, a university, an opera house, entertainment venues and nearly 40 hotels and resorts.
Diriyah Company group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: “The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art will provide Saudi and international artists with a truly world-class platform – one that invites global voices to engage with the Kingdom as it is today.
“This iconic asset will further elevate Diriyah’s reputation as the Kingdom’s capital of culture – and underscores our unwavering commitment to developing a vibrant city that serves our community, and the nation at large.”
The involvement of Hassan Allam Construction – Saudi Arabia and Albawani reflects ongoing partnerships with established regional contractors to deliver large-scale cultural and infrastructure projects.
SAMoCA’s integration into Diriyah aligns with objectives set out in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, focusing on supporting local artists and reinforcing the city’s role in the Kingdom’s creative and heritage sectors.
