Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz presided on Wednesday over the laying of the foundation stone of the Diriyah Gate project.
The project is a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination for Saudi Arabia with a UNESCO World Heritage Site at its heart.
Upon his arrival at the venue, King Salman was received by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Governor of the Riyadh region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Riyadh region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz and several senior officials.
This cornerstone-laying event comes as the Kingdom continues its pioneering plans to welcome visitors from near and far, and underlines Saudi Arabia’s mission to showcase the cultural icon to the world as one of its great gathering places.
The seven square kilometer giga project will become one of Saudi Arabia’s cultural and lifestyle destinations with places to gather, explore, shop, dine, live and work. Appealing to international tourists and local citizens seeking authentic and cultural experiences, the destination will celebrate the rich cultural history of Saudi Arabia.
Amongst its many offerings, Diriyah Gate will be home to a diverse collection of museums and galleries in addition to a range of cultural and educational experiences. More than 20 world leading luxury hospitality brands, including Aman Resorts, will be carefully located in historic and breathtaking surrounds, along with five iconic squares, a Formula-E racetrack and a 15,000-seat arena.
