It is not every day that one gets to see a city practically emerge from the desert. If you feel so inclined, then a visit to Diriyah, just on the outskirts of the Saudi capital of Riyadh, needs to be organised post-haste
It is no secret that Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest-growing and most popular travel destinations today. In a bid to steer its primary revenue source away from petroleum, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman is aggressively driving the kingdom towards his ambitious Vision 2030 initiative. This follows on his original 2016 national transformation plan to wean the economy away from “black gold” while modernising Saudi society in one fell swoop. The KPI? To increase non-oil GDP by a whopping 50%.
It must be said that the country has made great strides since positioning itself as a hub for global sports and entertainment events. As part of the reforms, it plays host to a leg of the Formula One Grand Prix, the Dakar Rally and, most surprisingly, MDLBeast Soundstorm, the giant electronic and pop music festival whose 2025 edition brought headliners such as Post Malone, Calvin Harris, Pitbull and Cardi B to the formerly ultra-conservative kingdom.
Even the travel cognoscenti have been busy discovering luxury resorts set amid otherworldly landscapes — from AlUla in the northwest, home to Hegra, the country’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, the Madain Saleh Nabatean tombs, and sandstone canyons, as well as modern marvels such as the mirrored Maraya Concert Hall, to the Umluj Archipelago, nicknamed the “Maldives of Saudi”, where the astounding spacecraft-like orbs of the Shebara Resort appear to float above the aquamarine waters of the Red Sea coast. With every passing moment, an entirely new destination is being sculpted out of the sands.
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DATELINE: DIRIYAH
Hailed as the historic birthplace of the first Saudi State in 1727 and the cradle and origin of its culture, Diriyah, also called “the City of Earth”, is just half an hour’s drive from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. Currently being transformed into a global hub for culture, heritage and tourism, Diriyah is set to be completed in time to play a significant role in Vision 2030, when the capital will host the six-month-long World Expo, beginning October that year.
While Riyadh’s metropolitan profile is punctuated by the Kingdom Centre Tower and the central business hubs of Al Olaya, Laysen Valley and the King Abdullah Financial District, Diriyah offers a more historic look at the nation’s heart and soul instead, designed as a homage to the desert.
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In complete contrast to steel and skyscrapers, its plethora of mud-brick buildings — adorned with distinctive triangular wall perforations — make it one of the world’s largest integrated mud brick cities, offering a paean to traditional Najdi architecture, which references the people and culture of the central Najd region, rich in Bedouin traditions. A captivating open-air heritage site and global cultural destination, it is regularly thronged by crowds, particularly after the sun sets and when things, literally, cool down.
Also home to the At-Turaif District, inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2010, Diriyah is where you may find the Salwa Palace, which served as the ruling and administrative seat during the First Saudi State, and the 260-year-old At-Turaif Mosque.
Although Diriyah is still a work-in-progress, visitors already flock here in steady streams. There are the casual visitors and tourists who come for the history and culture, while those in search of a spot of shopping or a bite to eat make a beeline for Bujairi Terrace, a vibrant lifestyle destination that offers everything — from contemporary Saudi cuisine at Takya to even an outpost of Angelina’s of Paris, as well as boutiques selling fine oudh and designer abayas. For those who truly want to immerse themselves in the Najdi lifestyle, there is the Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection hotel offering the rare experience of staying within a Unesco World Heritage site and which comes complete with a world-class spa as well as dining room helmed by Egyptian-born, American celebrity chef Michael Mina.
SHIFTING SANDS
Counting itself part of the Public Investment Fund giga-project portfolio, chaired by the Crown Prince, the Diriyah Company was established in 2023 to oversee the area’s overall development as a global hub for culture, heritage and tourism.
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Its goals include attracting about 50 million visitors annually by 2030 (the numbers stood at three million at end-2024) while playing a key role in supporting and contributing to the kingdom’s tourism GDP from 3% to 10% within the same timeframe.
Spanning an area of 14 sq km, Diriyah is designed almost completely in the authentic Najdi style. Beyond the fine dining and culture, however, Diriyah is also attracting visitors who come for something of far higher value — real estate.
Those with a penchant for big names will be impressed by Diriyah’s dream to have only the best of the best. The 40 global hotels and resorts being built include The Chedi, a new Aman resort named Amansamar (which means “night” in Arabic), a Six Senses and a Faena. There will also be The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Raffles Residences and Baccarat Residences for those who want only ultra-luxurious living.
The most exclusive developments will be cocooned in Wadi Safar, a historic valley in the larger Diriyah development, near At-Turaif. “What Westminster is to London, Diriyah will be to Riyadh,” says Nawaf Rajeh, the development and innovation marketing executive director of Diriyah Company.
Once completed, the Diriyah development will be able to accommodate 100,000 residents. To further enhance social infrastructure, plans also include the setting up of 16 schools, one university and 31 mosques.
All these key elements in the master plan have clearly made it attractive in investors’ eyes, as total real estate sales exceeded SAR10.6 billion ($3.5 billion) in 2024.
Beyond being a mere oasis of wealth and luxury, Diriyah is also serious about its environment and ecosystem.
Already, a veritable army is hard at work, repopulating the region with more than six and a half million native trees, shrubs and plants. Seventeen kilometres of tracks for horses, bicycles and pedestrians have also been set aside, not forgetting eight public parks and a 3km escarpment walkway overlooking Wadi Hanifah.
Further gilding the lily is the Royal Golf Club, Wadi Safar, with its Greg Norman-designed 27-hole championship course, and the Royal Equestrian & Polo Club, all part of the Diriyah Company’s efforts to develop high-quality sports and entertainment facilities while blending a world-class experience amid Diriyah’s heritage and beautiful natural landscape.
The saying “Build it, and they will come” certainly seems to be coming true at Diriyah.
FAST FACTS
For first-time visitors to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a long list of questions is to be expected. Here is a quick guide to what is permissible.
Slowly shedding its forbidding image, Saudi Arabia is on course to take a bigger slice of the Middle East’s tourism pie. After welcoming more than 116 million visitors in 2024, the kingdom is aiming for 150 million by 2030, just in time for the World Expo.
Singaporean citizens must obtain a Saudi tourist eVisa before travelling. It is multiple-entry, valid for one year, with stays up to 90 days per visit. Basic medical insurance is included, and the visa covers tourism, family visits and individual Umrah (outside Hajj season). Travellers should confirm requirements on the official Saudi eVisa website.
The winter season, from November to March, is considered the most comfortable time to visit.
Friday and Saturday are classified as the weekend.
Saudi men and women love wearing the traditional thobe and abaya, but visitors are pretty much welcome to wear whatever they wish, as long as it is modest. It may surprise many that short-sleeved clothing and bermudas are also allowed.
Many five-star hotels include an on-site swimming pool. The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, for example, features a palatial indoor pool beneath a sky-themed fresco. Note that the pool is no longer men-only, but rules can vary by property, so it’s best to check in advance.
For the ladies, it is also a good idea to pack a scarf, just in case you visit places of religious interest and need to cover your hair.
Besides the usual contraband, pork products and alcohol are expressly forbidden in the kingdom, so there’s no need to stop at duty-free before you travel.
