Diriyah Company Signs $1.4 Billion Contract for Royal Diriyah Opera House Development

Riyadh, April 17, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Diriyah Company has signed a SAR 5.1 billion ($1.4 billion) joint venture agreement with El Seif Engineering Contracting Co. Ltd. (ESEC), Midmac Construction Co. Ltd., and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd. (CSCEC) to develop the landmark Royal Diriyah Opera House — a major cultural centerpiece for Saudi Arabia’s historic Diriyah area.

The contract signing, which took place during a formal ceremony attended by Executive Vice President of Riyadh Life Sector at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Khalid Alhazani, and led by Group CEO of Diriyah Company Jerry Inzerillo, marks a new milestone in the ambitious expansion of Diriyah as the Kingdom’s leading cultural destination.

Set to become Saudi Arabia’s largest performing arts venue with a main opera theatre seating 2,000, the Royal Diriyah Opera House will include additional spaces such as a studio theatre, rooftop amphitheater, and multipurpose halls, bringing total capacity to around 3,100 seats. It will be managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

Designed by acclaimed Norwegian firm Snøhetta Oslo AS, the venue will blend modern architecture with traditional Najdi design using natural, sustainable materials like palm, stone, and earth. Sustainability is a core focus, with the project integrating water conservation, natural light, and energy-efficient ventilation.

Specialist firms involved include Schlaich Bergermann Partner (structure and façade), Buro Happold and Saudi Diyar (MEP), Theatre Projects (acoustics and theatre consultancy), JLL (cost consulting), and Plan A (design management).

“This architectural masterpiece will play a pivotal role in bringing people together in one of the world's greatest gathering places to experience unforgettable performances,” said Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company. “The Royal Diriyah Opera House will be a landmark asset that supports Diriyah’s growing global role in shaping Saudi Arabia's artistic and cultural future, aligned with Vision 2030.”

Executive Vice President Khalid Alhazani added, “This agreement marks a major milestone in building this world-class operatic venue. We look forward to hosting the world’s leading operatic and artistic talent in the future, while empowering and supporting the outstanding local talent abundant in the Kingdom."

This announcement follows a series of major developments by Diriyah Company in 2025, including the launch of the Media and Innovation District and a SAR 426.3 million design contract with Omrania for buildings surrounding Diriyah’s central avenue.

As part of a larger urban development under the Public Investment Fund, the Diriyah project is expected to create over 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million visits annually, house 100,000 residents, and contribute SAR 70 billion ($18.6 billion) to Saudi GDP, reinforcing Diriyah’s role as a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s cultural and economic future.