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Diriyah Awards SAR 1.84bn Contract for SAMoCA

Published

1 month ago

11th June 2026

Huda Az

Diriyah Company has contracted Al Bawani Company Limited and Hassan Allam Construction Company for SAR 1.84 billion to construct the SAMoCA.

Diriyah Company has announced a SAR 1.84 billion (USD 490 million) contract to construct the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMoCA), selecting a consortium comprising Al Bawani Company Limited and Hassan Allam Construction Company to lead the project as part of its drive to elevate the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.

One of the Museums Authority’s main initiatives, this much-awaited monument serves as a national stage for modern and contemporary Saudi art.

SAMoCA Presence Enhanced

The entire project area is 77,428 square metres, compared to the museum’s total space of 45,252 square metres. Goodwin Austin Johnson, a British architectural firm, is designing the main museum structure. The museum has achieved a gold-level ‘Sustainability’ certification, showcasing its commitment to established sustainability standards during both its design and construction phases.

According to Diriyah Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo, “the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art will represent a global platform for Saudi and international artists and will enhance Diriyah’s position as a centre for culture and knowledge.” He underlined the company’s dedication to creating iconic sites that benefit society and help realise Vision 2030’s objectives.

The CEO of the Museums Authority, His Excellency Engineer Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Hammad, confirmed that the “Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art” will serve as the focal point of the Kingdom’s cultural movement.

He further stated, “This building aims to honour Diriyah’s historical legacy by serving as an artistic archive. It seeks to document and showcase the works of Saudi artists, including both early pioneers and burgeoning young talents, all the while fostering a more expansive forum for cross-cultural communication.”

In closing, he emphasised the steadfast dedication to ensuring that this dynamic platform remains an open source of inspiration available to all facets of society.

Diriyah: A Place of Culture In Favour of Saudi Vision 2030

While the SAMOCCA Centre in the Jaxx neighbourhood still functions as the experimental exhibition space in Riyadh’s Creative neighbourhood, the new museum in Diriyah will house the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art.

Construction contracts worth more than USD 29 billion have already been awarded for Diriyah, a massive urban development project estimated at SAR 236 billion (USD 63.2 billion). It is anticipated to immediately boost the Kingdom’s GDP by over SAR 70 billion (USD 18.6 billion), provide over 180,000 jobs, house about 100,000 citizens, and draw 50 million tourists a year.

As part of its master plan, Diriyah will also include museums, retail centres, a university, the Diriyah Opera House, the Diriyah Arena, a variety of eateries and beverage establishments, and over forty international resorts and hotels.

The Diriyah Development Company is developing the Diriyah project, the birthplace of Saudi Arabia and a popular tourist destination that blends cultural, historical, and entertainment aspects. Together with ROSHN, the Red Sea International, Qiddiya, and NEOM, this project is one of the Public Investment Fund’s mega-projects that assist the expansion and diversification of the Saudi economy.

The mission statement of Diriyah highlights the company’s dedication to guaranteeing long-term economic prosperity that helps realise the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.