Wedoany.com Report-May 1, Diriyah Company has signed a $1.4 billion (SR5.1 billion) joint venture contract for the construction of the Royal Diriyah Opera House, a new cultural landmark in Diriyah, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The agreement involves El Seif Engineering Contracting, Midmac Construction, and China State Construction Engineering.

Diriyah Company signed the agreement with El Seif Engineering Contracting, Midmac Construction, and China State Construction Engineering.

The Royal Diriyah Opera House, managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, will feature a 2,000-seat main opera theatre, the largest in Saudi Arabia, along with a studio theatre, a shaded rooftop amphitheatre, and multipurpose halls, offering a total seating capacity of 3,100. The venue aims to become a hub for performing arts in the region.

Designed by Norwegian architects Snøhetta Oslo, the opera house blends a contemporary Najdi aesthetic with sustainable features, including water conservation, natural lighting, and thermal comfort measures. The project team includes Schlaich Bergermann Partner for structural engineering, Buro Happold and Saudi Diyar for engineering consultancy, Theatre Projects for theatre and acoustics, JLL for cost management, and Plan A for design management.

Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, stated: “The Royal Diriyah Opera House will be a landmark asset at Diriyah that will reinforce Diriyah’s growing global role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural future, aligned with Vision 2030.” He added: “This beautiful, iconic asset will play a vital role in bringing people together in the world’s greatest gathering places to experience unforgettable performances.”

The opera house is part of Diriyah Company’s 2025 initiatives, which include launching the Media and Innovation District at MIPIM in Cannes, awarding architecture and design contracts for Diriyah’s main avenue, and establishing electricity sub-stations. Other developments involve appointing Giza Systems for the Smart City initiative, selecting IBM Maximo for asset management, and launching Saudi Arabia’s first Armani-branded residences. In July 2024, a $2.13 billion contract was announced for four luxury hotels and the Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club.

Supported by the Public Investment Fund, the Diriyah project aims to provide housing for over 100,000 residents, office space, 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million annual visitors, and contribute $18.6 billion (SR70 billion) to Saudi Arabia’s GDP. The opera house underscores Diriyah’s commitment to cultural and economic growth.