Living up to its great position regionally and internationally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is carrying out several projects in diverse sectors, but mainly in tourism to put the country on the global tourism map as an international hub.
Diriyah, one of the most important places in Saudi Arabia, has a great significance to the Kingdom as it was the capital of the first Saudi state. It includes several tourist places developed by authorities to allure a large number of visitors from inside and outside the country, as part of the framework of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, CEO of DGDA Jerry Inzerillo said in an interview with Saudi media this month. He also pointed to the significance of Diriyah in hosting sports events like Formula E to be held on February 26-27.
He said their mission is to highlight Diriyah’s location as one of the greatest gathering places in the world, with the modern amenities and infrastructure of a key tourist destination.
The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) has begun construction works worth SAR75billion (USD 20bln) on Diriyah Gate, which is a new cultural and lifestyle tourist destination located in Diriyah, 15 minutes northwest of Riyadh City, according to the DGDA website.
In line with the DGDA’s strategy, the Gate giga project seeks to transform seven square kilometers of Diriyah city into a world lifestyle destination for heritage, culture, retail, education and hospitality, with the aim of alluring 25 million visitors and tourists annually.
The scheme will include entertainment, cultural, hospitality, retail, educational, office and residential areas, including more than 20 hotels.
In light of the great renaissance seen in the Kingdom, the plan covers the establishment of advanced educational institutions, academies, cultural institutes, universities and museums,
The Gate also will work on evolving a place of great learning and help visitors be relaxed, inspired and culturally connected.
In addition, the project features a chain of outdoor plazas and a three km. escarpment walk that offers views across the historic Wadi Hanifah.
Officials hope that the destination will attract local and international visitors through its world-class entertainment and events.
The Gate, which draws on the influence of 300-year-old Najdi architecture, will comprise the Kingdom’s most accessible collection of heritage and culture offerings, including more than 20 Saudi cultural attractions.
Moreover, the DGDA and Misk Art Institute (MAI) signed a memo to share expertise and boost cooperation in varied domains, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported last December.
The memo is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 that aims at creating further job opportunities and prospects for the local community as well as listing the country on the global tourist map. The two organizations agreed to share artwork and information across media resources to achieve the common goals.
The DGDA has signed a memo with the National Water Company (NWC) to provide water services that focus on a sustainable environmental development.
The MoU will help serve the development’s tourism, and its economic, environmental, heritage goals. It said that the services carried out by NWC would back the DGDA’s strategies to accomplish projects for the ecosystem and green spaces in Al-Bujairi area, and for afforestation and natural shading in pedestrian paths, bicycle paths, and sports areas.
Samhan Heriatge Hotel, located in the well-known historical Diriyah province, will be inaugurated in 2022 and will offer a distinguished and tasteful hospitality for guests from all over the world. The original pedestrian paths of the hotel have been designed to mimic the passageways of the ancient Diriyah.
The plan, set to be an architectural masterpiece, will be situated in a stunning natural locale in the Al-Bujairi and Wadi Hanifa areas.
The hotel will provide an opportunity to guests from inside and outside Saudi Arabia to be acquainted with ancient Saudi life and its historical events.
Al-Bujairi Terrace, one of the projects in Diriyah, includes luxurious international restaurants and café shops with fabulous natural views overlooking historical and heritage sites. With an area of 15,000 square meters, the scheme will provide services to both visitors and guests from inside and outside the Kingdom.
The plan involves a number of luxurious restaurants designed to show a traditional Najd atmosphere in the site, with a 180-degree panoramic view overlooking both historic At-Turiaf as well as Wadi Hanifa with its fascinating nature. At-Turiaf is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Al-Bujairi Terrace has been developed to be a globally attractive area to those who are interested in entertainment, eating food and tasting coffee in a heritage atmosphere with natural vistas.
Al-Bujairi Boulevard is a renowned monument in Al-Bujairi Terrace area that contains ancient heritage sites and natural landscapes in historic Diriyah.
The Boulevard is also a shopping area that has various international luxury and local brands, and prestigious shopping malls to serve all visitors and guests.
Diriyah Park, located in Al-Buhairi District in Riyadh, is characterized by its fascinating natural and artificial features including lakes, small waterfalls, large areas and wonderful corridors on which visitors can walk amid the beautiful atmosphere of a park full of trees and palms.
The Park also has several distinctive restaurants and cafes, with all the service facilities that visitors need. All this is in addition to the lighting, which adds an aesthetic touch to the Park. There are many unique monuments scattered around the Park which tourists enjoy viewing.
At-Turaif district in Diriyah involves numerous fabulous archaeological buildings and museums in a distinctive architectural and engineering style, together with luxurious shops and heritage palaces.
It has the Palace of the Princes and the Palace of Nasser bin Saud. At-Turaif is distinctive as an important tourist site due to its location on the southwestern mountain of Diriyah, and this helps tourists enjoy charming views. It also includes some mosques, particularly Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mosque.
Established in 2017, the DGDA aims to maintain the history of Diriyah and develop its historic site into one of the world’s greatest gathering places as well as making it into a hub for Saudi Arabia’s culture and heritage
The DGDA is transforming Diriyah into one of the region’s foremost destinations for cultural knowledge-sharing activities and international events.
Diriyah Gate is a destination for contemporary life, shopping, dining at various restaurants, and getting acquainted with several international and local brands held in the distinctive Najdi area. Over 100 restaurants offer the tastiest local and international food in the diverse atmospheres and urban spaces near Wadi Hanifah.
