Diriyah: past, present and future
At the heart of a key gigaproject, the birthplace of 黑料社区 continues to make history
Just 10 kilometers west of Kingdom Tower in 黑料社区鈥檚 modern capital, Riyadh, stand the carefully restored remains of imposing mudbrick structures that were once part of a historic city: Diriyah, the birthplace of the Kingdom of 黑料社区.
This is At-Turaif, a unique archaeological treasure trove of royal palaces, mosques, homes and defensive towers that was built in the 18th century in the capital of the First Saudi State.
It was here, in what is now revered as the birthplace of the Kingdom, protected since 2010 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that the first chapters in the story of 黑料社区 were written more than half a millennia ago.
Now, Diriyah and the royal district of At-Turaif are also helping to write part of the next chapter of the Kingdom鈥檚 story. Diriyah is the scene of one of modern 黑料社区鈥檚 largest gigaprojects, a $63.2 billion transformation of a 14-square-kilometer site into a global heritage, cultural and lifestyle destination.
Diriyah is owned by the Kingdom鈥檚 Public Investment Fund and managed by Diriyah Company, which is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is destined to play a central role in fulfilling the pledge, contained within 黑料社区鈥檚 Vision 2030 blueprint for national development and diversification, to raise the contribution of tourism to the Kingdom鈥檚 gross domestic product from 3 percent to 10 percent by the end of this decade.
At the heart of Diriyah鈥檚 appeal as a cultural destination lies At-Turaif district, recognized internationally as an outstanding surviving example of the unique Najdi mudbrick building style of central Arabia. In both its design and materials, Diriyah, the 鈥淐ity of Earth鈥� that is growing up around ancient At-Turaif, pays sympathetic homage to that architectural tradition, while simultaneously taking advantage of the latest advances in sustainable urban living.
When complete, Diriyah, rich with museums, galleries, more than 40 world-class hotels, numerous restaurants, shops, homes and educational and cultural facilities, will be home to 100,000 residents, creating 178,000 jobs and welcoming 50 million visitors every year.
Tourists from around the world will be able to immerse themselves in the history and culture of a kingdom that in less than 300 years has grown from an idea born in a small desert community to become one of the world鈥檚 most prosperous nations.
DIRIYAH
BUJAIRI TERRACE
Bujairi Terrace is a fine-dining destination that brings together restaurants from a variety of global culinary traditions, including the best examples of Saudi cuisine.
ROYAL DIRIYAH OPERA HOUSE
The first of its kind in the Kingdom, the 45,000 sq m Royal Diriyah Opera House is a spectacular collaboration between the world-renowned Norwegian architectural firm Sn酶hetta and Riyadh-based Syn Architects.
DIRIYAH ARENA
As a direct reflection of the ambition of Saudi Vision 2030 to develop the Kingdom鈥檚 entertainment landscape and tourism potential, the iconic 20,000-seat, 76,000 sq m Arena is a central feature of the Diriyah masterplan.
DIRIYAH SQUARE
Located within Diriyah鈥檚 vibrant heart and designed and built in homage to the traditional Najdi architectural style, Diriyah Square is destined to be one of the Kingdom鈥檚 largest shopping destinations, home to hundreds of iconic lifestyle brands.
DIRIYAH ART FUTURES
A unique project by 黑料社区鈥檚 Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Diriyah Company, Diriyah Art Futures is an interdisciplinary research and educational centre operating at the intersection of art, science and technology.
BAB SAMHAN HOTEL
Opened in 2023, Bab Samhan, Marriott Luxury Collection hotel with panoramic views of Wadi Hanifah and a design inspired by Najdi architecture, is the first of more than 40 hotels that will boost Diriyah鈥檚 reputation as a destination that celebrates 黑料社区鈥檚 rich cultural history.
Birthplace of a nation
The story of Diriyah can be traced back to 1446, when Prince Manaa鈥� Al-Muraide, leader of the Marada clan of Al-Duru tribe of the Bani Hanifah, took the first steps on the long road that would lead to the foundation of the Kingdom of 黑料社区.
The Bani Hanifah, originally from the Hejaz, had migrated to the Najd region of Al-Yamamah in pre-Islamic times, but during a period of great instability in the 10th century the Marada clan traveled east and established a settlement near Qatif on the shores of the Arabian Gulf.
They named their new home Diriyah, after their tribal name, Al-Duru, and then carried that name back with them when they returned to their Arabian heartland in the 15th century.
They returned to Najd in response to an invitation from Al-Muraide鈥檚 cousin, Ibn Dir. As the ruler of Hajr, a town on the site of modern-day Riyadh in Al-Yamamah, an area of ancient settlements in the lower Najd along Wadi Hanifah, Ibn Dir was keen for unused, fertile land he owned to be settled by a friendly people and put to productive use.
He suggested to Al-Muraide that his clan should return from the coast and settle there, and 鈥渢he invitation was well received,鈥� said Badran Al-Honaihen, associate director of historical research and studies at Diriyah Company.
鈥淚n 1446, Al-Muraide and his clan began their migration from the eastern city of old Diriyah to the center of the peninsula, where they established the new Diriyah.鈥�
The 400-kilometer journey across the barren sands of the Dahana Desert was not an easy one but eventually the caravan arrived at Wadi Hanifah. There, 鈥淚bn Dir welcomed them and he and Al-Muraide agreed to restore the glory of their ancestors, who had once settled in the region and secured trading and pilgrimage routes,鈥� said Al-Honaihen.
The first known map showing Diriyah (鈥淒r茅iv茅鈥�) and At-Turaif (鈥淓l Tereif鈥�), drawn in 1810 by a French diplomat, Joseph Rousseau.
The first known map showing Diriyah (鈥淒r茅iv茅鈥�) and At-Turaif (鈥淓l Tereif鈥�), drawn in 1810 by a French diplomat, Joseph Rousseau.
Ibn Dir set aside two plots northwest of Hajr: Ghasayba and Al-Mulaybeed. Al-Muraide made Ghasayba his headquarters, building a defensive wall around it, and designated Al-Mulaybeed as agricultural land.
The clan transformed the new Diriyah into a productive oasis, nourished by the fertile soil of Wadi Hanifah and well positioned at the crossroads of trading routes. But none could have foreseen the great destiny that lay in store for the settlement; indeed, 300 years would pass before the path began to become clear.
鈥淭hese events were among the most prominent to take place in the Arabian Peninsula,鈥� said Al-Honaihen. Al-Muraide鈥檚 arrival 鈥渓aid the building blocks for the establishment of the greatest state in the history of the Arabian Peninsula, after the Prophetic State and the Rashidun Caliphate.鈥�
A drawing of Imam Mohammed bin Saud as envisaged by Manga Production in Riyadh. (Manga Production)
A drawing of Imam Mohammed bin Saud as envisaged by Manga Production in Riyadh. (Manga Production)
For many years, Al-Muqrin and Al-Watban branches of the clan vied for control of Diriyah. But at some point around 1720, Saud ibn Mohammed of Al-Muqrin assumed the leadership and, with this momentous transfer of power, the House of Saud was founded.
Historians date the origin of the First Saudi State to 1727, when Saud鈥檚 son, Mohammed, became ruler of the town. Imam Mohammed ibn Saud, said Al-Honaihen, was the great-great-great-great-grandfather of King Salman, and 鈥渙ne of the most important figures鈥� in the story of 黑料社区.
When he became emir, Mohammed 鈥渇ocused his efforts on stabilizing the region and securing routes for commerce and pilgrimage,鈥� Al-Honaihen explained.
鈥淯nder his rule, the emirate of Diriyah became one of the strongest independent emirates in Najd and was free of the dominance of regional powers.鈥�
The abandoned ruins of Diriyah, photographed by a British army officer in 1912, almost a century after the city鈥檚 destruction by Ottoman force.
The abandoned ruins of Diriyah, photographed by a British army officer in 1912, almost a century after the city鈥檚 destruction by Ottoman force.
After Imam Mohammed鈥檚 death in 1765, his successor, Imam Abdulaziz, built on the unity he had created. During his reign, in about 1766, the royal district of At-Turaif was founded in Diriyah and work began on Salwa Palace, one of the most spectacular buildings that can still be seen at the UNESCO World Heritage site.
In 1803, Abdulaziz was succeeded by his son, Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. He became known as Saud the Great 鈥渄ue to the greatness the Saudi state achieved under his reign, stretching from the edges of the Euphrates and the Levant in the north to Sanaa and Masqat in the south, and from the coast of the Arabian Gulf in the east to the Red Sea in the west,鈥� said Al-Honaihen.
But with its success, and the growing threat it posed to the authority of the Ottoman Empire, grew the seeds of the downfall of the state.
During the reign of Saud the Great (1803-1814) the First Saudi State reached its zenith. By 1804, Madinah and the Red Sea port of Yanbu had been absorbed into the state, and in 1807 Imam Saud drove out the last Ottoman forces from Makkah.
A photograph of the ruins of At-Turaif taken in 1917 by British explorer Harry St John Bridger Philby, who became an advisor to Ibn Saud. (Diriyah Company)
A photograph of the ruins of At-Turaif taken in 1917 by British explorer Harry St John Bridger Philby, who became an advisor to Ibn Saud. (Diriyah Company)
In so doing he laid claim to the rightful guardianship of the Two Holy Cities that had underpinned Constantinople鈥檚 status as the caliphate of Islam, a title it had claimed by force since the early 16th century, and this provocation was too much for the Ottomans.
In 1811, forces dispatched from Egypt under the orders of the Ottoman sultan, Mahmud II, landed at Yanbu. It was the start of a bloody, six-year campaign that would end with the defeat of the First Saudi State, the abandonment of Diriyah and the partial destruction of At-Turaif.
After the death of Imam Saud in 1814, at the height of the conflict raging across central Arabia, the throne passed to his son, Abdullah. He was destined to be the last ruler of the First Saudi State.
In a series of valiantly fought but ultimately one-sided battles, the Saudis were slowly but surely driven back until, in March 1818, they had their backs to the walls of Diriyah.
The 5,000-or-so defenders were hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned by a force of 30,000 Ottomans, but nevertheless held out for six months before finally succumbing to the inevitable.
Battered by shot and shell, the walls of At-Turaif still bear the scars of the bloody siege in which the flower of the youth of the First Saudi State gave their lives during a heroic last stand.
Nawaf Almeteri, an archaeologist with Diriyah Company, with an Ottoman cannonball unearthed at At-Turaif.
Nawaf Almeteri, an archaeologist with Diriyah Company, with an Ottoman cannonball unearthed at At-Turaif.
At-Turaif, at the heart of Diriyah, is now recognized by UNESCO as being of 鈥渙utstanding universal value.鈥� But it is especially precious to the Saudi people, not only as the birthplace of the Kingdom of 黑料社区, but also as a symbol of the rise and ultimate triumph of the House of Saud against seemingly impossible odds.
In the end, the Ottomans did not overrun the defenders. Imam Abdullah, the last ruler of the First Saudi State, finally surrendered only when the prolonged suffering of his people became too much for him to bear. He was taken in chains, first to Cairo and then to Constantinople, the seat of Ottoman power, where he was publicly beheaded.
The pockmarked walls and war-battered towers and palaces of At-Turaif, abandoned in 1818 but sensitively restored and preserved over the past 20 years, are monuments to the sacrifices of a generation of Saudis, and to the determination of a people to forge their own destiny.
It was the end of Diriyah as the Saudi capital but, undeterred, the Saudis would rise yet again, first under the leadership of Imam Turki bin Abdullah Al-Saud, founder of the Second Saudi State, and ultimately under Abdulaziz ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, the son of the last Imam of that state.
In 1902 Abdulaziz, known to the wider world as Ibn Saud, emerged from exile with a small band of warriors to recapture Riyadh, storming the fortress of Masmak, 20 kilometers southeast of At-Turaif, and restoring the House of Saud to its rightful place.
After a 30-year campaign of unification, he finally united the kingdoms of Najd and Hejaz and, on Sept. 23, 1932, proclaimed the foundation of the modern Kingdom of 黑料社区.
A rare photograph of the army of Abdulaziz on the march, photographed near Thaj by British envoy Captain Shakespear in the spring of 1911. (Getty)
A rare photograph of the army of Abdulaziz on the march, photographed near Thaj by British envoy Captain Shakespear in the spring of 1911. (Getty)
In the decades that followed, Riyadh, the capital of the new Saudi state, thrived and grew, and during the 1970s its predecessor, Diriyah, rose again, this time as a new town on the outskirts of the rapidly expanding capital.
The door to Masmak Fortress in Riyadh, through which King Abdulaziz and his men fought their way in 1902.
The door to Masmak Fortress in Riyadh, through which King Abdulaziz and his men fought their way in 1902.
The tip of a spear thrown by one of Abdulaziz's warriors can still be seen embedded in the door, just to the right of the large bolthead in this photograph
The tip of a spear thrown by one of Abdulaziz's warriors can still be seen embedded in the door, just to the right of the large bolthead in this photograph
A labor of love and honor
By definition, a brick made of mud is a humble object, forged from the most basic of components: earth, water and hay, pressed into shape and then baked in the heat of the Arabian desert sun.
There was, however, nothing remotely humble about the mudbrick structures built by the craftsmen of the Najd in At-Turaif, on a limestone plateau overlooking Wadi Hanifah.
More than two centuries later, they form the historical heart of the sympathetic Diriyah development that is taking shape there.
The Najdi builders created imposing palaces not only fit for the rulers of the First Saudi State, but also capable of enduring everything that war and weather could throw at them for 200 years.
In this city that was 鈥渢he home of the heroic kings in Diriyah, the historical and cultural capital of the First Saudi State,鈥� said Al-Honaihen, 鈥渢he unity, security and public safety of the Arabian Peninsula originated, from the Arabian Gulf to the Red Sea, and from the edges of the Levant and Iraq to the edges of Yemen and Oman.鈥�
At-Turaif contains the remains of numerous palaces and other buildings, the earliest of which is Salwa Palace, which was built in a strategic location in the middle of the district overlooking Wadi Hanifah.
Adam Wilkinson, who until 2025 was heritage and culture chief at Diriyah, said At-Turaif owed its survival to one key factor: 鈥淭he quality of the original building work.
鈥淭here are mudbrick walls there that are up to three meters thick, and the mudbrick itself is of very high quality, made using a particular technique that made it very, very strong; so strong that it could resist many of the cannonballs fired during the siege of 1818. The survival of At-Turaif is a testimony to those original builders.鈥�
Fortunately for the future of this priceless gift from the nation鈥檚 past, the unique Najdi architecture attracted the interest of one man in particular who was in a position to do something about preserving it.
During his almost 50-year tenure as governor of Riyadh, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, now King Salman, spearheaded the restoration of At-Turaif and the rehabilitation of Wadi Hanifah.
Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, now King Salman, visiting At-Turaif in 1981. As governor of Riyadh, he realized the importance of preserving this key piece of the nation's heritage.
Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, now King Salman, visiting At-Turaif in 1981. As governor of Riyadh, he realized the importance of preserving this key piece of the nation's heritage.
A 10-year project to restore the long-neglected buildings of At-Turaif began in earnest with the launch of the Historic Diriyah Development Program in 1998, under the auspices of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in conjunction with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, and Diriyah Governorate.
With that work all but complete, in 2010 At-Turaif earned recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site of 鈥渙utstanding universal value.鈥� In 2017 it was handed over to the newly formed Diriyah Gate Development Authority, and in 2019 King Salman inaugurated the Diriyah gigaproject by laying the first mudbrick.
The nomination document that secured At-Turaif鈥檚 place in UNESCO鈥檚 pantheon of universally significant cultural sites describes it as 鈥渁n outstanding example of earthen architecture particularly remarkable for the quality of its mudbrick masonry laid on limestone foundation 鈥� a traditional human settlement in a desert environment reflecting the intimate link between landscape, natural resources and the human efforts to settle the land.鈥�
The distinctive combination of building materials and construction techniques, it adds, reflects 鈥渢he unique development of the traditional know-how of At-Turaif master builders.鈥�
The 18th-century palaces of the House of Saud 鈥渁re particularly remarkable for the quality of their mudbrick masonry, and the vestiges of the palaces preserve a complete catalogue of the stylistic characteristics of Najd architecture,鈥� which 鈥渃ontribute to the world鈥檚 cultural diversity.鈥�
Over the years of restoration projects, the skill and know-how of the Najdi master builders who created At-Turaif has been studied and reacquired by the new generation of craftsmen working at Diriyah. Thanks to a Royal edict, mudbrick making would be in great demand across the 14-square-kilometer development of Diriyah, where the ancient art has been granted a new lease of life on the grandest of scales.
Although modern machinery is now used to produce the vast quantities of the mud-and-hay mix required, replacing the human hands and feet used in the original manual production process, the craftsmen trained at Diriyah are essentially creating and working with millions of the very same type of bricks used to build At-Turaif almost 300 years ago.
As a result, Diriyah is a stunning, living architectural tribute to the achievements and legacy of the First Saudi State.
Tough, demonstrably resilient and representing the very definition of sustainability, the humble mudbrick, far from being a redundant technology, is enjoying a renaissance as both the inspiration and the raw material for one of the most ambitious gigaprojects to date in 黑料社区.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: Making mudbricks begins with excavating clay and mixing it with sand, straw and water.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: Making mudbricks begins with excavating clay and mixing it with sand, straw and water.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: The mixture is left to ferment for at least 30 days, after which it is shaped into bricks in wooden moulds.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: The mixture is left to ferment for at least 30 days, after which it is shaped into bricks in wooden moulds.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: The shaped bricks are left outside in their moulds to bake in the heat of the sun for up to three weeks.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: The shaped bricks are left outside in their moulds to bake in the heat of the sun for up to three weeks.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: The finished product, tough enough to endure the ravages of war and centuries of neglect and erosion.
MAKING MUDBRICKS: The finished product, tough enough to endure the ravages of war and centuries of neglect and erosion.
A world class destination
鈥淒iriyah will be one of the most amazing cultural gathering places in the world,鈥� said Talal Kensara.
This is an ambitious promise. But as the chief strategy officer at Diriyah Company, responsible for ensuring that all the objectives of the master plan are met, it is one he can make with a great deal of authority and confidence.
Diriyah is within an eight-hour flight of about 80 percent of the world鈥檚 population and, when complete, it will offer a great deal to tempt the estimated 50 million visitors expected each year.
On one level, the development will have everything one might expect from one of the flagship gigaprojects developed by 黑料社区 in accordance with the nation鈥檚 Vision 2030 master plan to diversify and grow its economy and open up the Kingdom to the world.
So, yes, Diriyah will feature a dazzling array of restaurants, high-end shops, public plazas, luxury hotels and homes, alongside many recreational spaces, museums, galleries and offices. It will be a thriving community, well worth a visit in its own right.
But what makes Diriyah truly unique is that it will also pay tribute to the cultural and social heritage of 黑料社区 and shine a light on the story of the Kingdom, thanks to At-Turaif, the historical jewel at the heart of the development.
鈥淭his is a chance for 黑料社区 to show its traditions, its culture and its heritage to the world,鈥� said Kensara. When complete, 鈥淒iriyah will be one of the most amazing cultural gathering places in the world,鈥� he added.
The world is already sitting up and paying close attention. The unique gigaproject is proving to be a magnet for global investors, residents, and visitors alike, said Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO at Diriyah Company.
鈥淥ur investment packages are designed to attract developers, investors, and financial institutions, and are tailored across various sizes and asset classes, including for mixed-use, residential, hospitality, office, education and healthcare assets.鈥�
Inzerillo explained that eight years on Diriyah has made huge leaps forward in its development, advancing at full speed to continue on the next phases of the project.
鈥淲e鈥檝e reopened the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, where we have already welcomed over 3 million visitors. We鈥檝e built and operated Bujairi Terrace, which offers the world鈥檚 finest cuisine through an array of thoughtfully selected restaurants and caf茅s. Zallal, a new mixed-use district within Diriyah, has officially opened its doors. We鈥檝e opened our first hotel, Bab Samhan, and work is ongoing at a tremendous pace and scale to complete our remaining assets,鈥� he continued.
He noted that 鈥渢he size, scale, and opportunities offered at Diriyah across so many sectors make the project highly attractive to the global investment community,鈥� with investors from around the world showing 鈥渋ncreasing and unwavering interest.鈥�
鈥淒iriyah offers major investment opportunities and an attractive business environment characterized by the highest standards of governance, contributing to increased job opportunities, increased GDP, and ensuring Diriyah鈥檚 status as a world premier destination,鈥� Inzerillo added.
Major global hotel brands looking for 鈥渢he next exciting destination鈥� have set their sights on Diriyah, according to Imran Changezi, executive director of hospitality development at Diriyah Company.
鈥淭he operators can see what鈥檚 going on in the Kingdom,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey can see the momentum, they see the pulse. They can feel the energy of what鈥檚 going on in line with Vision 2030: securing the rights of the 2027 Asian Football Cup, 2030 Expo, 2034 FIFA World Cup and many more.
鈥淭hey can see it鈥檚 not just these events but the actual vision and the strategy that has been passed down right from his majesty (the king) and his royal highness (the crown prince), and they want to be part of this growth. They want to be coming in now so they can look back in five or 10 years and say, 鈥榊es, we made the right move at the right time.鈥欌��
Strict design guidelines are in place as part of the Diriyah master plan, which investors and a diverse mix of hospitality brands are embracing.
鈥淥ne of our mandates is to enhance and protect the legacy and the heritage and the culture, which we are very proud of,鈥� said Changezi. 鈥淪o we have strict design guidelines that all of our architectural styles comply with, paying a very distinct homage to the Najdi architecture.鈥�
As a living, open museum, Diriyah will offer visitors the opportunity to experience invaluable cultural assets, such as the ancient art of calligraphy, first-hand.
As a living, open museum, Diriyah will offer visitors the opportunity to experience invaluable cultural assets, such as the ancient art of calligraphy, first-hand.
The most obvious example of the homage to the historic district of At-Turaif within the wider Diriyah development is of course the striking use throughout of mudbricks and other key elements of the Najdi building style. This, said Wilkinson, the former heritage and culture chief, is in no way a pastiche but instead an entirely appropriate revival of a building style born of a certain time and place and now viewed as having a timeless appeal and potential.
鈥淣ajdi architecture is unique,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 so fascinating about it is that it has adapted to its place, it is environmentally sound, and now it has become architecture for the modern world, in that the materials being used are almost zero-carbon.鈥�
Visitors to Diriyah will learn the story of 黑料社区 in several ways, said Kensara: 鈥淎side from amazing hospitality and hotel experiences, there will be a lot of cultural and heritage experiences for visitors to enjoy.鈥�
To the west of Diriyah will lie 60 square kilometers of pure tranquility: Wadi Safar, home to vast stretches of pristine, undulating, golden sand dunes, and the setting for a new level of luxury living, steeped in Saudi heritage.
Conceived as a secluded retreat for the Kingdom鈥檚 most influential, Wadi Safar will bring together a globally peerless collection of luxury lifestyle and recreational experiences, set against a backdrop of natural beauty and featuring a 27-hole Greg Norman golf course.
In short, said Kensara, Diriyah, a key component of Vision 2030, will help to tell the true story of 黑料社区 as the country continues to open up to the world after decades behind closed doors.
鈥淭he main thing is for people to be able to experience the genuine Saudi culture, heritage and history, and to change the perception of 黑料社区,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd where can you experience all that better than in Diriyah, the birthplace of the Kingdom?鈥�
Work on the massive amount of infrastructure necessary to support the Diriyah project is already well advanced, but there is no single projected end date by which the full development will be complete and open.
鈥淭his project is not a theme park, where you cut the ribbon and say, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 it, it鈥檚 done,鈥欌�� said Kensara. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a rolling project where we will gradually offer different assets and experiences.鈥�
One of the assets that is already proving popular with locals and visitors is Bujairi Terrace, an elegant dining district, conceived in the Najdi architectural style, overlooking At-Turaif across Wadi Hanifah. It brings together restaurants from a variety of global culinary traditions, including some of the finest examples of Saudi cuisine and four restaurants that have Michelin-starred establishments in other countries.
A stay in Diriyah will be a central part of the heritage experience for visitors, as exemplified by the Bab Samhan, a Marriott Luxury Collection hotel. It opened in January 2025, the first of 40 hotels that eventually will cater to visitors, and of course its design pays homage to the traditional Najdi architecture.
The past and the future go hand in hand throughout Diriyah, a principle typified by Diriyah Arts Futures, 鈥渁n arts, research and educational center driven by a belief in the power of interdisciplinary creative practice at the intersection of art, science and technology.鈥�
Jointly organized by the Diriyah project and the Kingdom鈥檚 Ministry of Culture, the arts center was conceived as a location for collaboration and production by creative communities from around the globe, reflecting the ministry鈥檚 commitment to 鈥減reserving the country鈥檚 unique heritage while playing a pioneering role in developing and leading new art practices that will shape the future of art and humanity.鈥�
Diriyah's unique blend of heritage, entertainment and culture will offer visitors an unforgettable experience.
Diriyah's unique blend of heritage, entertainment and culture will offer visitors an unforgettable experience.
Diriyah Square, located within the vibrant heart of the development, will be one of the Kingdom鈥檚 largest shopping destinations, featuring more than 300 iconic luxury and lifestyle brands and 100 restaurants and cafes, all designed in that traditional Najdi style to create an authentic, intimate environment of streets, alleyways and squares.
Diriyah is also envisaged as a major destination for entertainment on a grand scale. Developers say its 76,000-square-meter Arena, nestled in the heart of the City of Earth, will have a capacity of 20,000 seats and take center stage as the premier venue in the Middle East, contributing to 黑料社区鈥檚 cultural and economic advancement.
The Royal Diriyah Opera House, which is scheduled to open in 2028 as a key element of the second phase of the master plan, is also expected to contribute to the positioning of Diriyah as a global hub for culture and creativity. Designed by Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta, in collaboration with the Saudi firm Syn Architects, it is the first venue of its kind in the Kingdom.
The full initial Diriyah masterplan is on course for completion by 2030. This is a fitting target date for a project so closely associated with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 鈥� which aims, in the words of the crown prince at the launch of the national blueprint for the future, to 鈥渟trengthen the Kingdom of 黑料社区鈥檚 position as a great nation in which we should all feel an immense pride.鈥�
Working on such a major project as Diriyah 鈥渋s a huge challenge,鈥� said Kensara, 鈥渂ut we are all very excited. It鈥檚 not only about the assignment but because we feel responsible, even if only in a very small way, for shaping the future of 黑料社区.
鈥淲e have a great organization and a team of very talented people, and we cannot wait until we see the dream of Diriyah come true.鈥�
This dream 鈥� rooted as it is so deeply in the fertile ground of At-Turaif, birthplace of the Kingdom 鈥� seems certain to flourish and blossom as one among many seeds 黑料社区 is planting as it throws open the gates to the once-secret gardens of its heritage to visitors from around the world.
WELCOMING THE WORLD
Diriyah is a global heritage and cultural destination, drawing millions of visitors every year. Even before its redevelopment, it hosted world-class events 鈥� from sporting spectacles to state visits 鈥� welcoming leaders from across the globe.
Credits
Writers: Jonathan Gornall, Lama Alhamawi
Research: Jonathan Gornall, Gabriele Malvisi, Sherouk Zakaria, Hanouf Albalawi, Diriyah Gate Development Authority
Project leader: Noor Nugali
Editor: Tarek Ali Ahmad
Creative director: Simon Khalil
Designers: Omar Nashashibi
Graphics: Douglas Okasaki
Head of video producer: Hasenin Fadhel
Video editors: Ali Noori
Videographers: Faisal Aldakheel, Abdullah AlJabr
Picture researcher: Sheila Mayo
Copy editor: Liam Carney
French editor: Zeina Zbibo
Japanese editor: Diana Farah
Social media: Jad Bitar, Daniel Fountain
Producer: Arkan Aladnani
Editor-in-Chief: Faisal J. Abbas
