Diriyah Company Signs a Long-Term Investment Agreement with King Saud University to Develop an Area within the Diriyah Project
Diriyah Company has signed a long-term lease agreement with King Saud University, represented by Riyadh Valley Company, the University’s investment arm, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Chairman of the University’s Board of Directors. The agreement falls within the framework of supporting long-term development and investment partnerships.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the University by the Acting President of King Saud University and Chairman of Riyadh Valley Company, Prof. Ali bin Mohammed Masmali.
Under the agreement, Diriyah Company will lease a plot of land measuring 552,000 square meters from King Saud University for a period of 70 years, enabling the development of the area located within the Diriyah Project, in alignment with the project’s comprehensive master plan.
The agreement aims to develop the area as part of the overall master plan of the Diriyah Project, maximize the value of King Saud University’s assets through a sustainable investment model, support the knowledge economy through a partnership between a national development entity and a university investment arm, and enhance integration between the academic sector and major national development projects, contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in urban and economic development.
His Excellency the Chairman of the University’s Board of Directors affirmed that the agreement reflects the University’s strategic direction to maximize the impact of its assets and activate high-quality, long-term partnerships with major national projects, strengthening financial sustainability, reinforcing the University’s role as an active partner in national development, and aligning with its future ambitions toward global excellence.
For his part, the Acting President of King Saud University and Chairman of Riyadh Valley Company, Prof. Ali bin Mohammed Masmali, stated that the agreement represents a qualitative shift in investment, ensures the University’s financial sustainability, maximizes its assets, and achieves ambitious development objectives for both parties.
Meanwhile, Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, noted that the agreement represents a strategic step within Diriyah’s development journey and reflects the integration of efforts between development entities and academic institutions to enable sustainable urban projects with long-term economic and knowledge-based value.
This agreement builds on a series of projects and contracts announced by Diriyah Company throughout 2025, including the development of major cultural and urban assets such as the Royal Diriyah Opera House, Diriyah Arena, and the Diriyah Square retail district, reflecting the accelerated pace of progress under the Diriyah Project’s master plan.
