On the outskirts of Riyadh, the city of Diriyah is a place of considerable historical and cultural significance in Saudi Arabia. It was here, in 1727, that the First Saudi state was established under the leadership of Imam Muhammad bin Saud, and the sand-blown ruins of the state’s seat of government, At-Turaif, have long symbolised the kingdom’s identity and heritage.

But now a new Diriyah is taking shape, which not only celebrates Saudi Arabia’s past but also makes a powerful statement about its future. An ambitious $63.2bn mixed-use urban development covering an area of 14 sq km aims to create, in the words of its developer, Diriyah Company, “one of the greatest gathering places for the world to live, work and play” that will “present 300 years of Saudi Arabia’s rich history to a global audience”. It is one of a number of ongoing giga-projects that form part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 programme of economic diversification.

The Diriyah of the future will include hotels, restaurants, museums, office space, arts centres, sports venues and homes for over 100,000 people. It is projected to contribute more than $18bn to annual GDP – most notably through increased tourism, helping to grow the sector from 6 per cent of GDP today to 10 per cent by 2030. “The purpose of Diriyah, as a cornerstone project of Vision 2030, is to ensure that as Saudi Arabia moves into the future, it anchors itself on the kingdom’s vibrant past,” says Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company.

Focus on sustainability

Parts of the development are already complete. These include restoration and preservation work at the At-Turaif site, which was granted Unesco World Heritage status in 2010, and construction of the nearby Bujairi Terrace, a destination dining hub housing more than 20 restaurants. The latter is built in the traditional Najdi mud-brick architectural style, which will inform the design of the rest of the project, justifying the “City of Earth” tag coined by the developers. In December 2022, these two sites became the first assets to be opened by a Saudi giga-project – the first of many that Diriyah Company is developing as part of its masterplan.

As with all of Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects, sustainability is a major focus. The development will be built using structures made from local, natural materials. State-of-the-art smart city technologies will monitor population, traffic and weather patterns to ensure that services only use energy when needed.

Diriyah’s planning takes a human-centred approach to urban life, focusing on walkability and easy pedestrian access, with most motorways and metro lines located underground. Additionally, the planting of 6.5mn native trees, plants and shrubs will create a green and cooling environment. “We want to ensure that Diriyah is a shining example when it comes to sustainability standards worldwide, making it a highly liveable city,” says Inzerillo.

The first of more than 40 hotels scheduled to open in Diriyah will be the 134-room Luxury Collection Bab Samhan, which has begun taking bookings. It will be followed by many other leading hotel brands, including the Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and Six Senses. In total, the combined hotels, once completed, will provide more than 6,000 rooms. “We’re absolutely delighted – one, to be in Saudi and, two, to be at Diriyah, which speaks to the culture, the history, conservation: all the elements that really align with us as a company,” Neil Jacobs, CEO of Six Senses, told Arab News.

An international entertainment hub

To add to the draw of the destination’s heritage, a calendar of cultural events is already attracting visitors: Diriyah intends to make a name as a regional and international entertainment hub. The annual Diriyah Season cultural festival runs from December to March, offering musical and theatrical performances, immersive art installations and exhibitions, and culturally oriented activities. Future venues in Diriyah will include the 46,000 sq m Royal Diriyah Opera House, the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena and Diriyah Art Futures – the first centre in the region dedicated to new media arts, establishing a dynamic hub for creative exchange and production, designed by Rome-based architects Schiattarella Associati. The Diriyah Square shopping district will house more than 400 high-end outlets. In total, the development area will encompass more than 1,000 shops.

Construction of Diriyah is now well under way, with a surge of activity in 2024. Final completion is scheduled for 2030, which should tie in with the opening of Riyadh’s new King Salman International Airport, designed to be one of the largest and most technologically advanced airports in the world. And it will need to be, if Diriyah meets its target of welcoming 50mn visitors a year.

Inzerillo is confident they will come. “Diriyah is not just another shiny new-build tourism destination offering the same ‘copy paste’ product,” he says. “We are developing a historical destination as a global gathering place, attracting proud Saudi nationals, inquisitive international tourists, leading investors and the pinnacle of cultural talent.”