Diriyah Company Awards Construction Contract Worth $1.4billion (SAR 5.1 billion) to Build Iconic Royal Diriyah Opera House

Diriyah Company has signed a $1.4 billion (SAR 5.1 billion) joint venture contract for the development of Diriyah, The City of Earth's iconic Royal Diriyah Opera House with El Seif Engineering Contracting Co. Ltd., (ESEC), Midmac Construction Co. Ltd., and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd. (CSCEC), the world’s largest construction company.

The high-profile contract is the latest in a series of major project announcements made during the first quarter of 2025 as Diriyah Company continues its development program for Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Diriyah Company’s Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo signed the agreement with the three joint venture companies during a formal ceremony to mark this latest milestone in Diriyah’s ongoing construction momentum.

The opera house will become Diriyah’s flagship performing arts venue and a major architectural landmark, setting new benchmarks for cultural performances in Saudi Arabia.

With a capacity of 2,000 people, the main opera theatre will be the largest in Saudi Arabia and the focal point of the venue that will be managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The Royal Diriyah Opera House will also include a studio theater, shaded rooftop amphitheater and multipurpose halls taking the total seating capacity to 3,100 seats.

It is the latest in a series of major announcements in 2025 including:

·       The launch of the high-profile Media and Innovation District at MIPIM in Cannes

·       Awarding a $113.6 million (SAR 426.3 million) architecture and design contract to Omrania, the Kingdom Tower architects, for buildings around Diriyah’s main iconic avenue

·       Awarding key electricity sub stations contracts by the Saudi Electric Company with a combined value of $310.9 million (SAR 1.2 billion)

·       The appointment of Giza Systems as the delivery partner for Diriyah’s Smart City initiative

·       The selection of IBM Maximo Application Suite to monitor and manage assets across Diriyah to enhance its Smart City capabilities

·       The launch of Saudi Arabia’s first Armani branded residences

·       The opening of Taleed – globally renowned chef Michael Mina’s first Michelin-starred restaurant in Saudi Arabia at the 134-room hotel Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection

The opera house has been designed by renowned Norwegian architects Snøhetta Oslo AS and will feature a contemporary Najdi aesthetic, using materials such as palm, stone, and earth. The design will prioritize sustainability, incorporating water conservation, natural lighting, strategic building orientation, and thermal comfort measures.

The design and engineering team supporting Snohetta includes Schlaich Bergermann Partner on structures and facades, Buro Happold and Saudi Diyar on MEP, Theatre Projects as theatre consultants and acousticians, JLL as cost consultants and supported by Plan A design management.

 Set to become an international theatrical powerhouse, the Royal Diriyah Opera House will help to anchor Diriyah’s place as the Kingdom’s cultural epicenter and a globally competitive destination for the arts. It positions Diriyah as a key player in shaping the future of performance and cultural infrastructure.

Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, said: “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.

This contract demonstrates our progress, building a diverse range of assets across the Diriyah development area. This beautiful, iconic asset will play a vital role in bringing people together in of the world’s greatest gathering places to experience unforgettable performances.”

Khalid Alhazani, Executive Vice President of Riyadh Life Sector, Royal Commission for Riyadh City added: “This agreement marks a major milestone in building this world-class operatic venue.  We are excited to have the opportunity to welcome the world’s leading operatic and artistic talent in the future and ensure that the Royal Diriyah Opera House can incubate and empower the wonderful range of homegrown talent we have in the Kingdom.”

Backed by the Public Investment Fund, Diriyah is an integrated urban development project that will, once completed, provide homes for over 100,000 residents, office space for tens of thousands of professionals in the technology, media, arts and education sectors, create an estimated 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million annual visits, and contribute USD 18.6 billion (SAR 70 billion) directly to Saudi Arabia’s GDP.