Diriyah, one of Saudi Arabia’s placemaking destinations of the near future and part of the country’s 2030 Vision, combines history, culture and lifestyle. The 14 sq km area is located at the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which had its beginnings in 1727. This monumental development, one of Saudi Arabia’s five giga-projects, is backed by the world’s fifth largest sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.
Once constructed, Diriyah will house 100,000 people, create 178,000 jobs, and host 50 million visitors a year in the future. This, in term, is estimated to contribute $18.6 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP. Diriyah is currently being developed into a Najdi-style mixed-use urban community, with its focal centre being At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the ancient capital city of the First Saudi State, formed in 1766.
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Termed ‘The City of Earth’, Diriyah is one of the world’s largest and most ambitious developments. It will include the Qurain Cultural District, created as a symbiosis of culture and modern urban living, showcasing a diverse range of arts, retail, office and residential spaces for residents to live, work, shop local brands and savour local dining experiences. The Qurain Cultural District will comprise a cinema, museums and several academies, including writing, traditional Najdi architecture and mud building, Arab music, culinary, performing arts, and theatre as part of its multi-disciplinary cultural offerings.
In addition, the Qurain Cultural District will have two world-class hotels and branded residences, including The Ritz-Carlton Diriyah, with 195 rooms and 165 residences, as well as The Address Diriyah, with 204 rooms and 60 serviced apartments. This eminent district will also feature 19 mixed-use buildings, including office, retail and residences, 10 of which have various boutique office options, as well as a wide range of retail space and dining venues.
The World’s Gathering Place
As the second development presented at this year’s Basyaher, The Northern District is designed to create a global centre of learning for scholars, students and visionaries at Diriyah. This will include the King Salman Foundation, museums, a university, a library, and a vibrant public square. The new district will also host the recently announced Capella Diriyah, a 100-room luxury hotel that heralds the award-winning Capella Hotels and Resorts’ entry into the Middle East.
The venue of the Bashayer 2024 event took place in the first of Diriyah’s more than 40 planned hotels, the 134-room Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel. The new property, with its the 300-year old Najdi architectural elements, is the first among luxury chains from the likes of Raffles, Armani, Orient Express, Baccarat, Corinthia, Fauchon L’Hotel, and Rosewood, all of which will collectively add a total of 877 rooms. These hotels are part of more than 40 properties as part of both the Diriyah and the Wadi Safar Masterplans.
“At Diriyah, we are committed to offering the highest world-class standards of hospitality and we are enormously proud to have broken ground on these seven prestigious properties,” said Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo. “We will be a destination where you can find every one of the best global hotel brands, delivering unrivalled levels of luxury, experience and service as Diriyah welcomes increasing numbers of guests from inside Saudi Arabia and around the world. This is the second Bashayer event where we have undertaken hotel groundbreakings and demonstrated the progress and accelerated development in building The City of Earth.”
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The event was attended by global investors, hospitality companies, construction firms, infrastructure experts, and representatives from the sports, arts, culture, tourism and retail sectors. A highlight of the one-day event was a panel discussion with hospitality and media thought leaders such as Elizabeth Blau, founder and CEO of restaurant development company Blau + Associates; Sandeep Walia, chief operating officer, Middle East & luxury, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International; John Defterios, global lead, Storybook Studio APCO; and Jeb Terry, president and CEO at Cosm.
Inzerillo added: “Qurain Cultural District and Northern District are two of our most important and significant areas of the Diriyah masterplan, and demonstrate the range and diversity of what our City of Earth has to offer.
“They will both become global centres of excellence, of knowledge, learning and creativity as Diriyah once more becomes a gathering place for the world. We are delighted to share details of these major developments at Bashayer, and share once more the unique range of investment opportunities and partnerships the Diriyah Company has to offer the world.”
