Saudi Arabia is set to open its first specialized art storage facility, a project developed in collaboration between ATHR, one of the Kingdom's leading contemporary art galleries, and Hasenkamp, a German art logistics firm.
The facility aims to provide secure, climate-controlled storage for artworks, catering to the country's growing cultural sector and international art market.
The art storage facility, located in central Jeddah, is designed for museums, galleries, and collectors requiring high-security and climate-controlled conditions. The official opening is scheduled for May 24.
Museum-grade technology
The warehouse is located in the Al-Nakheel district, on an elevated site protected from flooding.
Hasenkamp said the warehouse has a controlled climate of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius, precisely regulated humidity and gas-based fire suppression – with no water used. Dust protection, privacy and round-the-clock surveillance are a matter of course, and access is strictly controlled.
Ceiling heights, doors and transportation routes are also designed for monumental works and a showroom with museum lighting allows for professional viewing of the works.
The facility also offers space for events and previews.
"As Hasenkamp we are contributing our experience from over 100 years in art logistics. The warehouse in Jeddah meets all the standards that international collections demand today," Thomas Schneider, managing director of Hasenkamp, said.
For Mohammed Hafiz, co-founder and managing director of ATHR, the project is part of a long-term strategy.
"We have been building Saudi Arabia's cultural infrastructure for years. With The Art Storage, we are creating a place where art is safely stored - and at the same time can be experienced by the public," he said.
Hasenkamp noted that the on-site team brings together more than five decades of experience in art handling, installation and special packaging.
It has its own workshop for custom-made crates, as well as administrative offices and customer areas.
Hasenkamp has been present in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for more than two decades.
