Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), an entity established to make Diriyah one of the world’s great gathering places has announced the first 14 of its planned 38 hotel brands as part of the $50.6 billion transformations of the historic city over the coming years.
The project, located 15 minutes north of Riyadh which remains on time, on budget and track will be the first giga project in the world to simultaneously open, ground-break and announce world-class assets every year from 2022 until completion in 2026. The hotel brands are strategically located across two of DGDA’s four masterplans, Diriyah Gate and Wadi Safar. The first 18 restaurant brands will open in Bujairi Terrace in early 2022.
Diriyah Gate Phase One, a five-sq-km mixed-use heritage, tourism and lifestyle destination, is set to become the world’s largest cultural and heritage city in alphabetical order including Address Hotels & Resorts, part of the Emaar Hospitality Group, which offers guests opportunities to celebrate life and its most cherished moments whilst Baccarat Hotels & Resorts will offer guests an artistic atmosphere catering to opulent social moments.
A Campbell Gray Hotels and Resorts property will be located in the Bujairi district, combining sustainability and Najdi design with modern glamour. Diriyah Gate will also feature a 100-key hotel by Capella Hotels and Resorts that will embody excellence in the craft of hospitality and curate unique experiences for guests to truly immerse in the local community.
In addition, Orient Express will make its Middle East debut, bringing the refined nomadic spirit and state-of-the-art detailing that characterize the artisan of travel, and the Raffles will reinterpret artistic and cultural tradition through an inspiring contemporary lens, with breath-taking views of Wadi Hanifah from its rooftop.
There will be a luxury Park Hyatt property boasting meaningful interiors by world-renowned designers, or guests can relax in the surrounds of The Ritz-Carlton which will fuse the past and present through elegant design and intuitive service. Finally, international grand and gracious Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will add a new urban retreat to its collection of global properties and The Luxury Collection will also be arriving in Diriyah, offering a unique and cherished expression of its location.
Jerry Inzerillo Group CEO – DGDA
“This prestigious hotel collection will set the stage for a new level of global hospitality. These hotels and resorts will not only complement the Kingdom’s rich culture and heritage but also its ambitious plans in line with His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s Vision 2030. We are honored to have attracted such iconic brands to the destination and look forward to unveiling the hotels’ next-level offerings for Saudi Arabia’s visitors and locals over the forthcoming months. This news marks a very special time for the development, and it is a superb example of Vision 2030 being implemented.”
Wadi Safar includes the world-class Oberoi brand which will offer its unremitting dedication to warm hospitality and perfection in a serene setting, and the purposeful sustainability and wellness commitment of Six Senses, inviting guests to reconnect to the region through crafted experiences. These hotel partners and more will come together to create a new global landmark and construct a new legacy for the Kingdom.
The hotel openings will take place in a strategic order with the first property which will be a part of The Luxury Collection, operated by Marriott International, due to open in 2022 with 141 keys.
Diriyah will soon offer a diverse collection of museums and cultural attractions, an ultra-luxury retail offering, and a line-up of revered international and local dining brands within the recently revealed Bujairi Terrace district. At the heart of Diriyah is the ‘Jewel of the Kingdom,’ UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif, which is regarded as one of the most important historical and political sites in Saudi Arabia.
