Saudi Arabia to Open 38 Hotels in Diriyah

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans regarding the historic city of Diriyah that is located only 15 minutes from the central part of Riyadh. Saudi Arabia plans to spend as much as US$50.6 billion on this project. A total of 38 hotel brands will launch their hotels in the city, and the first 14 were announced not long ago. Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) received many inquiries from the leading luxury hospitality brands and carefully selected the ones that were fitting the city and its heritage the most.

Diriyah is one of the first mega projects in Saudi Arabia. Hotels and other infrastructure will start opening next year, and all works are expected to end in 2026. The first 18 restaurants in Bujairi Terrace will start operating already in early 2022.

Hotels will be mostly concentrated in Diriyah Gate and Wadi Safar, which are two of the four masterplans of the development. Diriyah Gate is a five-square-kilometer large area with heritage buildings that is set to become a prime tourist and leisure destination. Some of the hotels opening here have been already revealed. Emaar Group will open an Address-branded hotel here, and Baccarat will bring its opulent charm to the area. Campbell Gray will manage a hotel in the Bujairi district that combines Najdi design and modern glamour. Capella Hotels and Resorts will open a 100-room hotel that will offer unique authentic experiences to guests.

The first Fauchon hotel in the Middle East will be also located in this historic city. Hilton will open an LXR hotel in Diriyah. LXR is a carefully curated collection of unique independent hotels that is currently not present in Saudi Arabia. Orient Express is another hotel brand that will debut in the Middle East with a hotel in Diriyah. Additionally, there will be Park Hyatt, Raffles, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, and the Luxury Collection hotels in the Diriyah Gate area.

Wadi Safar, an area to the west of Diriyah Gate, offers sixty square kilometers of unspoiled nature. In the past, this was a popular meeting place for traders from Asia, Europe, and Africa. Saudi Arabia sees this area as a modern cultural hub where rich cultural traditions meet the finest hospitality. Marriott will open the first hotel in this area. A part of the Luxury Collection brand, the new 141-room hotel will welcome its first guests in 2022. Oberoi and Six Senses announced hotels in Wadi Safar as well.