Major milestones reinforce Diriyah as a global hub for heritage, lifestyle, and education.
Diriyah Company continues to redefine the landscape of Saudi Arabia’s cultural and urban development, unveiling a series of iconic assets and cultural landmarks that reaffirm its role as a catalyst for heritage-driven transformation. With recent announcements spanning from luxury branded residences to large-scale infrastructure, lifestyle, entrainment, and cultural investments, the company is advancing its mission to turn Diriyah into a global destination and benchmark of elegance, authenticity, and opportunity.
Among the most significant announcements is the awarding of a SAR 5.1 billion ($1.4 billion) construction contract for the Royal Diriyah Opera House. This iconic cultural venue, set to become the largest opera house in the Kingdom, will serve as a new centerpiece for Saudi Arabia’s artistic and performing arts landscape. Designed by renowned Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, the opera house will blend contemporary design with traditional Najdi architecture. The venue will include a 2,000-seat main theatre, a studio theater, rooftop amphitheater, and multi-use performance spaces, all designed with sustainability in mind—featuring natural lighting, passive cooling strategies, and water conservation systems.
Diriyah Company is also laying the foundation for vital infrastructure and educational integration. In April 2025, the company announced the awarding of a SAR 4.225 billion ($1.13 billion) contract to relocate the utilities and administration offices of King Saud University as part of its broader masterplan. The joint venture comprised of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited Saudi Branch and China Railway Construction Group Central Plain Construction Co. Ltd., is set to deliver a full suite of modernized infrastructure. This includes a district cooling plant, sewage treatment facilities, LPG and diesel pumping stations, and advanced utility tunnels, in addition to administration offices, warehouses, and maintenance workshops.
This initiative emphasizes Diriyah Company’s alignment with Vision 2030 goals in enhancing educational institutions and enabling world-class services for students and faculty. It also demonstrates the seamless integration of infrastructure within the urban and cultural fabric of Diriyah, reinforcing the area’s strategic importance as a hub for learning, heritage, and innovation.
In March 2025, Diriyah Company announced the Armani residences in Diriyah. This collection of 15 exclusive branded homes will be nestled within Diriyah Square, the beating retail heart of Diriyah, marking the debut of Armani’s residential footprint in Saudi Arabia. The homes, with interiors curated personally by Giorgio Armani, are a refined interpretation of Najdi design, offering a distinct sense of place while embracing the timelessness of Diriyah’s legacy and the elegance of Armani’s brand.
Armani residences will span three thematic collections: The Palm Residences, The Botanical Residences, and The Royal Penthouses. Ranging from 1,200 to 1,900 square meters. Each home includes formal and family living areas, three-bedroom suites, libraries, private pools, and furnishings by Armani/Casa. Residents will also benefit from seamless access to the adjacent Diriyah Square and its premium, global and local retail offering, which includes over 400 retail & F&B options, a wellness center, business lounge, and in-residence services, all connected via dedicated underground access.
Along with their cultural and residential milestones, Diriyah Company also unveiled a transformative addition to its masterplan with the launch of the Media and Innovation District, announced at MIPIM 2025 in Cannes. Envisioned as a pioneering hub for the technology, media, and communications industries, the district will redefine how content is created, shared, and experienced in the region. Strategically located near the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena, the district will span over 250,000 square meters of office gross floor area, anchored by global media networks, creative agencies, and innovation-led enterprises.
Purpose-built for collaboration, the district will feature 450 residential units, more than 15,000 square meters of retail and dining space, and will be home to the first Middle East property from the globally renowned 1 Hotels brand: The 1 Hotel Diriyah, designed with sustainable principles and local materials.
The Media and Innovation District is set to attract regional and international tech giants, broadcasting companies, and digital disruptors, all within an ecosystem designed to foster creativity, innovation, and transformative thinking. Office buildings will incorporate light-filled, future-ready workspaces with advanced sustainability standards embedded from planning through to operation.
These major announcements reinforce Diriyah Company’s role in the wider Vision 2030 ecosystem: to create a city that is not only a beacon of Saudi heritage but also a world-class destination for culture, education, and lifestyle. The convergence of artistic expression, academic excellence, and luxury living in one masterplan is a powerful statement of intent; a model of development that harmonizes tradition with progress – and puts people first.
As Diriyah continues to attract global travelers and investors, these milestones provide a compelling glimpse into its future: a city born of history, thriving in modernity, and built with purpose.
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