Saudi’s Diriyah adds cultural districts to $63bn plan

Diriyah Company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has started construction on multi-billion dollar educational and arts districts in the $63.2 billion giga-project.

Spanning an area of 14 sq km, the “world’s biggest urban development projects” will house the Qurain Cultural District and Northern District.

The Qurain Cultural District will include a range of arts, retail, office and residential spaces, along with a number of academies, including writing, traditional Najdi architecture and mud building, Arab music, culinary, performing arts and theatre.

The district will also house the Ritz-Carlton Diriyah with 195 rooms and 165 residences, along with the Address Diriyah, which has 204 rooms and 60 serviced apartments.

The developer has awarded a SAR5.8 billion ($1.55 billion) contract to a joint venture between Nesma & Partners Contracting Co. UJSC and MAN Enterprise Al-Saudia for the district.

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The Northern District will serve as a hub for learning and culture, hosting the King Salman Foundation, museums, a university, a library, and a public square. It will also feature the Capella Diriyah, a luxury hotel with 100 rooms.

Construction is underway following a SAR7.8 billion ($2.08 billion) award to a joint venture between China State Construction Engineering Corporation and El Seif Engineering Contracting.

Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said that the two districts will become “global centres of excellence, knowledge, learning and creativity as Diriyah once more becomes a gathering place for the world”.

The Diriyah project is one of Saudi Arabia’s five giga-projects. Once completed, it will provide homes for 100,000 people, create 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million annual visitors and contribute $18.6 billion to the kingdom’s economy.