Gulf Construction Online - Cultural hubs for ‘City of Earth’

Saudi Arabia

The Royal Diriyah Opera House will be a first-of-its-kind project in the kingdom.

Cultural hubs for ‘City of Earth’

01 May 2024

In line with the $63.2-billion Diriyah redevelopment programme’s goal of becoming the kingdom’s premier historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination, its developer Diriyah Company has recently unveiled plans for two exciting new developments: The Arena and Zallal, a versatile commercial office and retail project. These announcements follow the unveiling of plans for an opera house earlier this year, further solidifying Diriyah’s position as a comprehensive cultural and entertainment hub.

Located just 15 minutes from the heart of Riyadh, this ancient city – also known as “The City of Earth” – has already created waves with the recent opening of Bujairi Terrace – opposite the Unesco World Heritage Site of At-Turaif – which has become a premium dining destination.

The Arena, a 20,000-seat multipurpose venue ... echoing the surrounding natural geology and traditional Najdi architecture.

The Arena will be a revolutionary 20,000-seat multipurpose venue designed by leading US-based architecture firm HKS to host sports, entertainment and cultural events in the region. The design of the project was inspired by the surrounding natural geology and traditional Najdi architecture, encapsulating centuries of heritage while incorporating state-of-the-art technology to ensure flexibility, exceptional acoustics, and optimal viewing experiences, says Diriyah Company.

The venue is intended to serve as a tourism and cultural landmark, drawing international visitors and significantly enriching the region’s events landscape. Adjacent to The Arena will be a lively shopping and dining district, as well as the Plaza, an outdoor space designed for live performances and community engagement.

HKS Architects’ lead architect Alex Thomas pointed out that the architecture evokes local geological formations and ancient Najdi forts.

“The Arena’s design includes ‘digital waterfalls’ that light up the structure, serving as a beacon and inviting guests to the dynamic experiences within,” explained Thomas.

Zallal will feature two low-rise office buildings in the Bujairi District.

Zallal, Diriyah’s inaugural major versatile commercial office and retail project, will feature two low-rise office buildings in the Bujairi District, offering a combined leasable area of approximately 6,000 sq m, alongside 12 mixed retail and F&B outlets spanning around 8,000 sq m.

The precinct is currently under construction and is slated to debut in the first half of 2025. Strategically located adjacent to the popular Bujairi Terrace, it is situated near the recently concluded Diriyah Art Futures and the Bab Samhan Hotel, which is set to open shortly.

Meanwhile, the Royal Diriyah Opera House will be a first-of-its-kind project in the kingdom. Encompassing a 45,000-sq-m area, the opera house will be located near the Unesco World Heritage Site of At-Turaif. It will be built by Diriyah Company and operated by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).

The new opera house – a key element of the second phase of the Diriyah masterplan – will serve as a platform for a diverse programme of cultural performances. Designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Snøhetta supported by the Riyadh-based Syn Architects, the opera house will showcase a seamless blend of heritage and innovation and reflect Najdi-style architecture, characterised by its intricate details and mudbrick-inspired construction method.

These projects will form part of the ambitious redevelopment programme, which covers Diriyah Gate, Wadi Safar, Wadi Hanifah and At-Turaif. The programme involves transforming about 14 sq km of Diriyah into one of the world’s unique historical, cultural and lifestyle destinations that combines 300 years of history, culture, and heritage with top-quality lifestyle, residential and hospitality offerings. The ancestral home of the Al Saud family, Diriyah is recognised as a symbolic centre of inspiration for the generations of leaders that have led the kingdom since the foundation of the first Saudi Arabian state in 1727.

Currently, work is in progress on Diriyah Gate and infrastructure works over the extensive masterplan. Saudi Real Estate Company’s (Al Akaria) subsidiary Binyah has recently signed a contract worth SR722.1 million ($193 million) with Diriyah Gate Company Limited (DGCL) to carry out the key metro excavation works which will link the Diriyah Gate development with the Riyadh Metro.

Binyah’s scope of work includes the implementation of excavation for Metro-Box Central, Metro-Box South and Metro-Box East and other related works. The entire work will be completed in 2027, according to Al Akaria.

Work is also under way on three renowned hotels – Oberoi, Aman and Six Senses – as part of the Wadi Safar masterplan.

Diriyah Company has also entrusted City Cool Cooling Company with the development of a district cooling plant and associated distribution network to deliver a cooling capacity of 72,500 tons of refrigeration (TR). As per the SR700-million contract awarded in March, City Cool will deploy the district cooling plant with an impressive energy efficiency rating of 0.7 KW/TR. The chilled water will supply the cooling demand of all non-residential assets within the first phase of the Diriyah project.

The first phase of the Diriyah masterplan has been awarded Platinum Level LEED for Cities and Communities Certification by the US Green Building Council, marking the first time a project in the Middle East has received such an accolade, according to Diriyah Company. The first phase comprises a luxurious, mixed-use project with entertainment, shopping, cultural, commercial, and residential assets.