Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has announced at the Arabian Travel Market that its very first hotel, Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is set to open this year, offering 106 standard guestrooms, 28 suites and one Royal Suite. 

 

The plan is Diriyah’s new hotels will provide guests over 6,500 rooms upon completion and will be strategically located across the area, further enhancing the allure of Diriyah, and attracting an estimated 50 million visits annually. 

 

Other significant elements of Diriyah that have been announced and currently under way include The Royal Diriyah Opera House, Saudi Arabia’s first such venue, and the world-class Arena in Diriyah that can host up to 20,000 people and can physically reconfigure to accommodate a wide variety of different events. 

 

Diriyah Square

Additionally, the newly introduced luxury shopping precinct - Diriyah Square - will feature over 400 global and local retail outlets and over 100 premium restaurants and cafes.

 

The master planned development for the 14 sq km area surrounding the 300-year-old Saudi capital is located on the outskirts of the modern capital city of Riyadh, Diriyah is already attracting an increasing number of tourists from within the kingdom and globally.

 

Since opening in December 2022, the outstanding and diverse range of restaurants and cafes of Bujairi Terrace and the historic UNESCO World Heritage site of At-Turaif have welcomed over two million visitors to discover its rich 300-year-old heritage and traditional Saudi hospitality.

 

Diriyah has forged partnerships with over 40 of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, The Address, and Capella. 

 

Unparalleled project

Diriyah is being recognised as an unparalleled project that seamlessly combines deep historical value and cultural significance with a visionary master plan. It is embracing and preserving the past, as the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and offering visitors the opportunity to visit and experience the majestic UNESCO site of At-Turaif, and the recently completed Bujairi Terrace which overlooks the verdant Wadi Hanifah.  

 

Diriyah’s development area is equivalent in size to the Swiss city of Geneva. Every building's exterior design will reflect the traditional mud brick inspired Najdi architectural heritage, including those for hotels, restaurants, museums, residential buildings, and entertainment attractions.

 

Commenting on the growing momentum of its tourism offer, Diriyah Company’s Group Chief Executive Officer Jerry Inzerillo, said: "As one of the region’s most vibrant and engaging visitor destinations, Diriyah has made enormous progress in the past year as we continue to welcome the world to The City of Earth.

 

“Our visitor experience is an essential element of who we are, and we have been proud to ensure that we truly embrace the concept of past, present, and future in all that we do, with authenticity. We are delighted to be able to share our progress here at this year’s Arabian Travel Market and look to develop new partnerships and forge new partnerships for a very bright future in Saudi Arabia.”--TradeArabia News Service