Diriyah’s significance underscored by its designation as a giga-project of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF

Special Diriyah’s significance underscored by its designation as a giga-project of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF
Hundreds of years ago, the mud-brick city of Diriyah played a key role in the development of what would one day become the nation of Saudi Arabia; now it is set to play another important role as a major tourist attraction. (Supplied)
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Updated 10 January 2023

Diriyah’s significance underscored by its designation as a giga-project of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF

Diriyah’s significance underscored by its designation as a giga-project of Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF
  • The original seat of power of the Kingdom’s Al-Saud family is the subject of a $50 billion restoration project
  • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says PIF’s investment “reflects Diriyah’s status as a unique destination”

JEDDAH: For more than 500 years, the remains of the mud-brick city of Diriyah bore mute witness to the resilience, determination and the vicissitudes of fortune of the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula.

Constructed along a curve on the outskirts of Riyadh, on an oasis that split from the banks of Wadi Hanifa, Diriyah’s mud-brick walls once enclosed a thriving desert city that was a powerhouse of culture and commerce.

Its At-Turaif district, with its famous citadel, was the original seat of power for the Kingdom’s Al-Saud family. In 1727, the city was named the country’s capital, laying the foundations for what would later become a unified Saudi Arabia.




Thanks to the efforts of the king and his crown prince, Diriyah will soon be on show to the world like never before. (SPA)

In 2010, almost three centuries later, the ruins of At-Turaif were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, in July 2017, the area became the subject of a painstaking restoration plan aimed at bringing its historical legacy back to life.

Now, Diriyah has been added to the portfolio of the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as its fifth giga-project.

The five giga-projects form a key pillar of the sovereign wealth fund’s strategy to diversify the Kingdom’s economy by launching new sectors, promoting public-private partnerships, and boosting investment and employment opportunities.

The recognition of the site alongside the Kingdom’s other giga-projects “reflects Diriyah’s status as a unique destination with distinctive cultural, historical and tourism landmarks,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the prime minister of Saudi Arabia and chairman of the PIF, said in an announcement on Monday.

The PIF, which manages more than $620 billion in assets, is at the heart of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan that aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons.

Besides Diriyah, Saudi Arabia’s roster of giga-projects includes NEOM smart city, Red Sea Global’s luxury tourism development, Riyadh-based Qiddiya entertainment complex and real-estate developer ROSHN.




At the center of Diriyah’s At-Turaif district, a maze of stone and adobe mud houses, courtyards and towers, are located high citadel towers of the majestic Salwa Palace. (Supplied)

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) was entrusted by the Saudi government in 2017 with redeveloping the “birthplace of the Kingdom” into a world-class and sustainable tourism, entertainment and cultural destination.

Once complete, the $50 billion giga-project will feature some of the world’s most luxurious restaurants and hotels built in traditional Najdi architectural style, alongside conservation areas and cultural venues.

The DGDA will continue to supervise the site with a view to transforming it into one of the region’s foremost tourist attractions.

At the center of Diriyah’s At-Turaif district, a maze of stone and adobe mud houses, courtyards and towers, are located high citadel towers of the majestic Salwa Palace. It was here where the first chapters in the story of Saudi Arabia were written.

Extending over an area of at least 10,000 square meters, the palace at Salwa, which means solace or comfort in Arabic, is the largest single structure in Diriyah, consisting of seven architectural units built in successive stages.

The first appeared in 1446 when Manaa’ Al-Muraide, leader of the Marada clan of the Al-Duru tribe of Bani Hanifah, and “the father of the Saudi royal family,” laid the building blocks for what would become the greatest state in the history of the Arabian Peninsula.

Built in distinctive Najdi architectural style from mud bricks, straw, and logs, the walls are lined with decorative triangular windows designed to recirculate air and bring natural light into the rooms.




King Salman visited the historic site in 1981. (Supplied)

This architectural style evolved over several centuries in response to the harsh conditions, making use of the few readily available natural materials, including sun-baked adobe bricks, limestone quarried from the slopes of the wadi and timber from the hardy tamarisk tree.

Historians believe the First Saudi State was established here in 1727 when Saud’s son, Mohammed, became the ruler of the town. Imam Mohammed ibn Saud was the great-great-great-great-grandfather of King Salman and “one of the most important figures” in the history of Saudi Arabia.

Built in the Hanifah valley, the city’s emergence represented a turning point in the Arabian Peninsula’s history, as the Arab and Islamic worlds found stability and prosperity and became a destination for trade, culture, knowledge, communication and economic exchange.

After his death, Imam Mohammed’s son, Abdulaziz, continued his father’s work, and years later, his son Saud, known as Saud the Great, inherited the throne.




Diriyah has been added to the portfolio of the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as its fifth giga-project. (Royal Commission for Riyadh City)

As the Saudi state expanded, stretching from the edges of the Euphrates and the Levant in the north to Sanaa and Muscat in the south and the coast of the Arabian Gulf in the east to the Red Sea in the west, so did the threats to its control.

In 1811, Ottoman forces under the command of Ibrahim Pasha landed at Yanbu on Arabia’s Red Sea coast. It was the start of a bloody, six-year campaign that would end with the defeat of Diriyah and the abandonment of At-Turaif.

In March of 1818, the city walls were battered by shell fire, the scars of which remain visible today. Outnumbered six to one, 5,000 soldiers held the fort against the forces of Ibrahim Pasha.

For six months they stood strong to defend the fort. However, for every one of the 1,200 defenders who died, 10 of Pasha’s men were killed in battle. Leading the Saudi soldiers was Imam Abdullah bin Saud.

When the siege was finally over, the Ottomans withdrew from Najd, but not before laying waste to Diriyah, destroying buildings and fortifications. They also cut down every single date palm tree, undoing years of patient cultivation and condemning people across a wide area to starvation.

Although Diriyah and At-Turaif had been left in ruins, torn by unrest, assassinations, civil war, and later seized by the Ibn Rasheed clan in 1891, they remained in the hearts of the surviving members of the Saud family.




The recognition of the site alongside the Kingdom’s other giga-projects “reflects Diriyah’s status as a unique destination with distinctive cultural, historical and tourism landmarks,” said the crown prince. (SPA)

In 1902, a 16-year-old Abdulaziz ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, son of the exiled last imam of the Second Saudi State, and a small band of warriors, stormed the fortress of Masmak, 20 km southeast of At-Turaif, and reclaimed the throne.

He united the nation from east to west, with Riyadh as the new capital of the Saudi state, on Sept. 23, 1932. Four decades later, Diriyah would rise again, this time as a new town on the outskirts of the rapidly expanding capital.

Fast forward to 2017, and an ambitious plan was launched to transform Diriyah into a global historical, cultural and lifestyle destination.

With it, SR27 billion ($7.1 billion) would be added to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product, 55,000 jobs created and 27 million visitors attracted per year.

Once complete, the site will feature at least 28 luxury hotels and resorts, about 400 of the world’s finest luxury and lifestyle brands, and more than 150 fine-dining restaurants and premium cafes.

There will be more than 3,000 residential units in the traditional Najdi design and another 300-plus luxury branded residences.

The site will also host a brand new academic institution, King Salman University, which will focus on heritage, culture and the arts, alongside several new cultural institutes specializing in Najdi architecture and mud-brick building, poetry, falconry, Qur’an recitation, local theater, dance, music and the culinary arts.

Other cultural assets will include a grand mosque that can accommodate more than 10,000 worshipers, six museums focused on Saudi history, replete with a period village, not to mention the Al-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage site itself, and the Al-Taleh Center, the focus of whose work is the region’s farming heritage.




Diriyah is known for its decor and architecture. (Supplied)

These developments have not gone unnoticed in the wider region. Diriyah has been chosen to be the Capital of Arab Culture for 2030. It has already hosted the JAX Arts Festival and the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, a platform that supports the artistic and creative movement and helps keep pace with the cultural transformation of the Kingdom.

Diriyah is also set to host many more major sporting events. With its distinct road network, it has been a popular choice to host the world-famous Formula E racing event over the years. Diriyah was also host to “Clash on the Dunes,” the first heavyweight boxing championship to be held in the Middle East.

Such is the power and importance of Diriyah to the Saudi story and history of the Arabian Peninsula that the once abandoned city has once again taken center stage, becoming the crown jewel of the Kingdom.

Diriyah: past, present and future
On Saudi Arabia’s 91st National Day, the birthplace of the Kingdom continues to make history

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Jeddah authorities destroy 40 tons of ‘unsafe’ meals

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Updated 11 sec ago

Jeddah authorities destroy 40 tons of ‘unsafe’ meals

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It came as part of the municipality’s efforts to combat health violations and improve the urban landscape, as well as monitor standards in commercial and health institutions, contributing to the safety and security of citizens and visitors.

The municipality said that inspection teams examined a building in Al-Mahameed neighborhood that was used as a warehouse to prepare and store pastries and desserts.

Inspectors found that food was processed near restrooms, and discovered insects and expired items, in addition to improper food storage practices and poor levels of hygiene. The spoiled food items were confiscated and destroyed, and legal procedures were immediately taken to close the site.

The municipality added that it carries out inspection tours to follow up on activities related to public health. 

It commended the cooperation of citizens and residents in improving services by reporting violations through the Baladi application, or the unified center, through the phone number 940. 


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Updated 6 min 56 sec ago

Islamic Development Bank Group president meets Malaysian PM in Jeddah

Islamic Development Bank Group president meets Malaysian PM in Jeddah
  • Al-Jasser lauds historic agreement signed by Ibrahim and the bank in 1994

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Al-Jasser said that the meeting reflected Malaysia’s strong relations with the IsDB, referencing the historic agreement signed by Ibrahim — who was deputy prime minister at the time — and the bank in 1994.

He added that the IsDB’s regional office in Kuala Lumpur had become a center of excellence in offering comprehensive solutions in the fields of Islamic finance, halal initiatives, science, technology, and innovation. 

Al-Jasser reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to exploring opportunities for further cooperation with Malaysia — in line with its strategic partnership to develop and innovate Islamic financing products — as well as playing its part in strategic capital- intensive projects relating to energy, vaccine production, digital transformation, halal industry promotion, and microbusiness support.

Ibrahim praised the role of the IsDB in providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities around the world.

 


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Updated 8 min 19 sec ago

Saudi Arabia, Syria in talks to resume consular services: Saudi Foreign Ministry

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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Syria are in talks to resume consular services between the two countries, Al-Ekhbariya TV said on Thursday.

“Within the framework of the Kingdom’s keenness to facilitate the provision of necessary consular services between the two nations, discussions are underway with officials in Syria to resume consular services,” the TV channel reported, citing a Saudi foreign ministry official.

The report added that the statement from the foreign ministry’s source was in response to international media reports from earlier on Thursday.

The move comes after Saudi Arabia and Iran decided earlier this month to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in both countries, following a China-brokered deal.

In a phone call on Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Hussein Amir Abdollahian, about holding a bilateral meeting in the near future.

On February 19, Prince Faisal said consensus among Arab countries was growing that Syrian isolation was “not workable”, adding that dialogue with Damascus was needed “at some point” at least with regards to the “humanitarian angle.”

He also said on March 8 engagement with Syria might eventually lead to its return to the Arab League, but that at the time, it was “too early to discuss.”

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Updated 23 March 2023

Prince Khalid honors air cadets at ceremony in Riyadh

Prince Khalid honors air cadets at ceremony in Riyadh
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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense Prince Khalid bin Salman attended the graduation ceremony of the 102nd batch of King Faisal Air Academy in Riyadh on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Khalid was received by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force, Lieutenant-General Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, as well as the Commander of the King Faisal Air Academy, Major General Pilot Hazim bin Abdulrahman bin Ghashyan.

Several other senior officials attended the ceremony, where Prince Khalid honored the cadets.


King Salman, Crown Prince congratulate President Arif Alvi on Pakistan national day

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Updated 23 March 2023

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RIYADH: King Salman sent a cable of congratulations to President Arif Alvi of Pakistan on Thursday on the anniversary of his country’s National Day.

The king expressed his best wishes for the president’s good health and happiness, and for the government and people of Pakistan steady progress and prosperity.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also congratulated President Alvi on the Pakistani national day, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke with his Pakistani counterpart Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. 

During their phone call, they reviewed the strong relations between their countries and ways to support and enhance them to serve common interests.

 

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