Saudi Arabia is moving ahead with plans to establish a flagship national institution for contemporary art, following Diriyah Company’s award of a $490 million construction contract for a new museum in the historic Diriyah district.

The contract, announced during a signing ceremony in Riyadh, was awarded to a joint venture between Hassan Allam Construction Saudi Arabia and Al-Bawani Co. Ltd., marking the official start of construction.

The museum, named the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), will be located on Diriyah’s Grand Avenue and span more than 77,000 square meters, including 45,252 square meters of built-up area. It is intended to serve as a national platform for modern and contemporary Saudi art.

According to Diriyah Company, the development is designed to strengthen the Kingdom’s cultural infrastructure and support the expansion of its creative economy. The project forms part of broader efforts led by the Ministry of Culture to increase the cultural sector’s contribution to non-oil GDP through investment in museums, heritage assets, and creative industries.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company; Hassan Allam; and Fakher Al-Shawaf.

In comments issued alongside the announcement, Hassan Allam said the project marks a milestone for the group’s operations in Saudi Arabia and reflects its focus on delivering large-scale cultural developments aligned with national priorities. Fakher Al-Shawaf added that the project underscores the company’s role in developing national landmarks that showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural identity.

Diriyah Company said in a statement that SAMoCA is intended to document, research, exhibit, and promote Saudi modern and contemporary art. The building, designed by Godwin Austen Johnson, has achieved Mostadam Gold certification at both the design and construction stages.

The Museums Commission, operating under the Ministry of Culture, will oversee the development of the museum’s narrative and visitor experience, as well as manage its collections and exhibition design.

The commission said the museum is expected to serve as a national hub for Saudi modern and contemporary art, supporting artists across generations while fostering cultural exchange and dialogue. It will also function as a center for artistic exploration within the historic setting of Diriyah.