Arts AlUla announced a key milestone in the development of its newest cultural initiative. The AlUla Contemporary Art Museum was officially named and its vision revealed on 31st January during the launch of Arduna, the first exhibition presented by the institution.
AlUla, a cultural oasis located 1,100 km from Riyadh in North-West Saudi Arabia, is renowned for its extraordinary natural beauty and rich human heritage, including Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arts AlUla is dedicated to celebrating cultural heritage and shaping a future for AlUla propelled by creativity.
Designed as a dynamic platform for engaging audiences through exhibitions, commissions, residencies, research, and publications, the AlUla Contemporary Art Museum will bridge AlUla’s rich heritage with contemporary artistic ideas, fostering global dialogue. The Museum is committed to a truly international exchange, reflecting AlUla’s role as a cultural crossroads for millennia.
Architect Lina Ghotmeh will design the Museum’s future physical home as part of Saudi Vision 2030, integrating it within the unique landscape of the AlUla Oasis.
Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “”The AlUla Contemporary Art Museum marks another vital chapter in AlUla’s journey, connecting our deep local heritage with the innovations shaping the global art landscape. Rooted in AlUla’s monumental landscape and its people, and through bold commissions, landmark exhibitions, and deep collaborations, we are building a platform that elevates Saudi and regional voices into meaningful dialogue with the world. We look forward to welcoming our community, partners, and visitors to witness the rise of an institution that will shape artistic discourse for generations to come.”
Staged as part of the fifth edition of the AlUla Arts Festival 2026, an annual celebration of art, design, and culture, Arduna brings together both contemporary and modern expressions of creativity. Meaning “our land” in Arabic, Arduna is co-curated by AlUla Contemporary Art Museum and Paris’s Centre Pompidou with the support of the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA).
Featuring over 80 works from Saudi Arabia, the wider Middle East, and the world, Arduna explores humanity’s evolving relationship with nature, and includes new commissions and works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Manal AlDowayan, Ayman Zedani, and Etel Adnan, among others. Arduna runs from February 1 to April 15, 2026.
