Hassan Allam-led JV wins $490 million Saudi museum contract

A joint venture led by Hassan Allam Construction has secured a $490 million contract to develop the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in Saudi Arabia, deepening the Kingdom’s investment in cultural infrastructure under its Vision 2030 diversification agenda.

The $490 million (SAR1.84 billion) contract was awarded by Diriyah Company to a consortium comprising Albawani Company Ltd. and Hassan Allam Construction Saudi. The project forms part of the broader $63.2 billion Diriyah development, one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship giga-projects aimed at expanding tourism, culture, and non-oil economic growth.

Building a flagship cultural institution

The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, developed under the Museums Commission, is designed to document, research, and showcase Saudi modern and contemporary art while positioning itself as a regional hub for artistic exchange.

The museum is expected to support both established and emerging Saudi artists, providing a platform that connects local creativity with international artistic dialogue.

Engineering a new cultural landmark

The project is part of the broader Diriyah development, a flagship destination being delivered by Diriyah Company in the historic birthplace of the Saudi state. The wider development sits within Saudi Arabia’s portfolio of giga-projects, alongside NEOM, Qiddiya, Red Sea Global, and ROSHN, all aimed at reshaping the Kingdom’s economic base beyond hydrocarbons.

Designed by UK-based firm Godwin Austen Johnson, with support from Rafaat Miller Consulting, the museum will span a gross floor area of 45,252 square meters and a total built-up area of 77,428 square meters. The facility has already achieved Mostadam Gold sustainability certification at both design and construction stages, reflecting increasing environmental benchmarks in Saudi megaprojects.

Expanding Diriyah’s economic footprint

Diriyah is a $63.2 billion integrated urban development that has already awarded more than $29 billion in construction contracts. Once completed, it is projected to contribute about $18.6 billion annually to Saudi Arabia’s GDP, create over 180,000 jobs, house around 100,000 residents, and attract up to 50 million annual visits.

The master development will feature museums, retail districts, a university, the Diriyah Opera House, an arena, hospitality assets including 34 resorts and hotels, and a wide range of cultural and leisure infrastructure.

Strategic push into cultural infrastructure

Commenting on the project, Diriyah Company said the museum will strengthen the city’s positioning as a global cultural hub, while enhancing its long-term tourism and investment appeal.The

The latest contract reinforces Hassan Allam’s growing footprint in Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure and cultural development space, as the Kingdom accelerates delivery of landmark assets tied to its Vision 2030 diversification strategy.