Diriyah (Diriyah Gate)

Diriyah, also known as Diriyah Gate, is SAR 64 bn ($ 17 bl) mixed-use heritage and tourism development project located in Diriyah, “The City of Earth”, in Saudi Arabia¹. The project envisions the city of Diriyah as “a new cultural capital rooted in tradition”², offering “a unique heritage experience, educational and cultural opportunities, as well as world-class residential living”³. Diriyah is considered one of the world’s largest preservation and development projects⁴, and a key project in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aimed at cultural revival and economic diversification^{5 i}.

To implement the project’s vision, a master plan was proposed which extends along a 7 square kilometer site, located just 15 minutes northwest of Riyadh⁶. The master plan features a mix of urban development, cultural, and recreational facilities centered around At-Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ancestral home of the House of Al Saud⁷. In specific, it includes the restoration of the Al-Turaif site, the development of Bujairi Terrace, a major dining destination featuring traditional Najdi architecture, the King Salman University, and the House of Saud Museum⁸. New developments in Diriyah will blend traditional Najdi architectural styles with modern urbanism, encompassing mixed-use, residential, leisure, hotels, and commercial areas⁹.  The commercial heart of the project is Diriyah Square, a gathering place which is inclusive to locals and visitors alike¹⁰. Moreover, the project aims to restore and integrate the surrounding Wadi Hanifah through walking tracks and gathering areas, as well as the restoration of the historic palm groves and farm¹¹.

Sustainability is a key focus of the project, with initiatives in water conservation, energy efficiency, and climate resilience¹². In addition, the project supports the local economy through Diriyah Season, an annual themed festival that brings the cultural heritage of Diriyah to life through a captivating array of events and experiences¹³.

Here, the economic, cultural, and touristic activities are strategically designed to promote robust economic growth and community development, while enhancing global awareness of Saudi heritage¹⁴. Diriyah is targeting 178,000 new direct jobs, 100,000 residents, and more than 50 million visits by 2030, in support of the Saudi national tourism¹⁵.

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) was established in 2017 to “preserve, celebrate and develop Diriyah”¹⁶. The Diriyah project was inaugurated in 2019 by King Salman, and the Diriyah Company, was established by DGDA and PIF in 2022 to develop and execute the Diriyah Project¹⁷. Architecture and engineering company Atkins was announced as a consultant¹⁸.
The project is being carried out in phases:

• Diriyah Gate One (DG1), scheduled for completion by 2025¹⁹, includes historic restoration work as well as a new district near the old city, based on the same architectural style²⁰.
• Diriyah Gate Two (DG2) will reportedly have a Parisian-scaled mixed-use development featuring a main boulevard like the Champs-Élysées²¹. Saudi Real Estate Infrastructure Company (Binyahis currently executing the enabling works for this phase (site preparation, earthworks, demolition)²².
• Diriyah Gate Three (DG3) will be a modern residential zone which will be merge with the rest of the city of Riyadh²³.