Saudi Arabia awards $490m contract for museum in Diriyah

Welcome to AL-MONITOR Riyadh.

This week, Saudi Arabia announced a $490 million (SAR 1.84 billion) construction contract for the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in Diriyah, marking a major addition to the $63.2 billion Diriyah megaproject in Riyadh’s historic district and the birthplace of the Saudi state.

Elsewhere, we spotlight a major exhibition in Venice, staged by the Saudi Ministry of Culture, showcasing historical and contemporary maps of the world. The show is set to launch next week alongside the opening of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.

We also highlight an upcoming exhibition of works by young adults and children at ATHR Gallery in AlUla, as well as a new Riyadh eatery serving smashburgers.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Riyadh's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in Diriyah

A rendering of the new Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art within the Diriyah Development plan. (Courtesy of Diriyah Company) 

Saudi Arabia is stepping up development of its $63.2 billion Diriyah megaproject, awarding a $490 million contract to build the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art. The project is part of a broader push to position Diriyah — Riyadh’s historic district and the birthplace of the Saudi state — as a global hub for tourism, culture and investment, while supporting long-term economic growth and job creation. Diriyah Company awarded the contract to a joint venture between Egypt’s Hassan Allam Construction and Saudi-based Albawani Company.

SAMoCA is a flagship project of the Museums Commission, tasked with documenting, researching, exhibiting and championing Saudi modern and contemporary art. A SAMoCA space already operates in Diriyah’s JAX district and the new museum will become its flagship home. The JAX site will continue as an exhibition space within Riyadh’s creative hub.

The new institution is intended as a leading center for artistic exploration, deepening engagement with Saudi modern and contemporary art while supporting artists across generations.

“The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art will be the epicenter of Saudi modern and contemporary art,” stated Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Hammad, CEO of the Museums Commission, in the museum’s announcement press release. “Set against the historic legacy of Diriyah, it is designed to document and champion generations of Saudi artists, from pioneers to emerging voices, while inviting international dialogue into that story.”

The museum, designed by Godwin Austen Johnson, one of the Gulf’s most established UK-based architecture and design firms, with multidisciplinary support from Rafaat Miller Consulting, will span a gross floor area of 45,252 square meters and a total built-up area of 77,428 square meters. 

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Supernova Burger

A succulent smashed burger at the new Supernova Burger in Riyadh. (Courtesy of Supernova Burger)

Smashburgers are having a moment — and Riyadh is fully on board with the recent arrival of Supernova Burger. The appeal is simple: thin patties pressed onto a searing-hot griddle to create crisp, caramelized edges in a sharp contrast to thick pub-style burgers.

London-born Supernova is already drawing a crowd in the Saudi capital. The concept is stripped back — just burgers, fries and sundaes — with a menu that feels surprisingly simple for Riyadh. There are just two options: a classic cheeseburger and a house cheeseburger, both made with juicy, freshly prepared beef, soft buns and the right balance of pickles, onions, sauces and cheese. 

Location: Prince Abdulaziz Ibn Thunayyan St

Find more information here. 

3. Riyadh diary

Sarah Abu Abdallah, Following The Lines, 2022. Mixed media on canvas. 170 × 283 cm. (Courtesy of the artist and ATHR Gallery)

• "A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World" by the Saudi Ministry of Culture 

During the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, the Saudi Ministry of Culture will present A Necessary Fiction: Maps, Art, and Models of Our World, an exhibition bringing together historical maps, objects and contemporary artworks spanning from the 13th century to the present day, alongside new commissions.

The show invites visitors to explore regions in constant flux, where maps, both historical and contemporary, become tools for examining humanity’s enduring drive to construct scientific and imaginative models of the world.

Date: May 6 to Nov. 22

Location: Abbazia di San Gregorio, Dorsoduro 172, Venice

Find more information here.

• "Roots, Home, and Portraits" at ATHR Gallery

This exhibition, curated by Rania Majinyan, presents a community showcase of works by children and youth from AlUla celebrating local creativity. Staged at the close of the spring season, it reflects new ideas, everyday life and a continuing connection to AlUla’s striking ancient landscape. 

Date: May 10 until August 10

Location: ATHR Gallery, AlUla

Find more information here.

• The Royal Commission for AlUla Partners with L'ECOLE, School of Jewelry Arts 

The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a memorandum of understanding with L’ECOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, a global institution with a mission of introducing the public to all aspects of jewelry culture. The partnership aims to strengthen jewelry-related fields through training in craftsmanship, cultural exchange and knowledge development, while supporting the growth of AlUla’s arts and creative industries ecosystem. 

Find more information here. 

4. Book of the week: ‘Saudi Arabia: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture’

Cheryl Obal guides readers through a shifting terrain of cultural norms and etiquette in the fast-changing nation of Saudi Arabia. Published in 2024, it explores how the Gulf nation has long been shaped by differences in religious beliefs, regional identities and social backgrounds — factors that continue to influence how people interact with one another and with foreigners. The book also includes in-depth chapters designed to help readers navigate certain social, business and cultural situations.

5. View from Riyadh

The contract for the construction of the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in Diriyah is awarded during a signing ceremony in Riyadh on April 26, 2026, attended by Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company; Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding; and Fakher Al-Shawaf, group CEO of Al-Bawani Holding Company. (Diriyah Company Group)

6. By the numbers

• Diriyah Project has so far awarded more than $29 billion in construction contracts for the $63.2 billion Diriyah megaproject in Riyadh. The development, located in the city’s historic district and widely known as the birthplace of the Saudi state, is one of the kingdom’s flagship urban projects. 
• Once complete, Diriyah is expected to contribute approximately $18.6 billion to the kingdom’s GDP, create more than 180,000 jobs, house around 100,000 residents and attract up to 50 million visits annually, according to Diriyah Company.