The AlUla Contemporary Art Museum was officially named on 31 January during the opening of the Arduna exhibition, a pioneering cultural event in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. This announcement marks a key development in Arts AlUla's initiative to blend the region's rich heritage with contemporary art, fostering global dialogue and cultural exchange.
Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, AlUla is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and historical significance, including Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum aims to serve as a dynamic platform for exhibitions, commissions, and research, bridging AlUla's historical legacy with modern artistic expressions.
Architect Lina Ghotmeh will design the museum's future physical home as part of Saudi Vision 2030, integrating it within the AlUla Oasis landscape. Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts and Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla, stated, "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."
Arduna, meaning "our land" in Arabic, is co-curated by the AlUla Contemporary Art Museum and Paris's Centre Pompidou, with support from the French Agency for AlUla Development. The exhibition, part of the AlUla Arts Festival 2026, features over 80 works from renowned artists like Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky, exploring humanity's evolving relationship with nature. Arduna runs from 1 February to 15 April 2026.
This initiative underscores AlUla's commitment to becoming a global cultural destination, with future plans including the Wadi AlFann, a site for land art set to unveil from 2028 onwards
This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.
