Diriyah Company has signed a SAR 5.1 billion ($1.4 billion) joint venture contract for the development of Diriyah’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.

This contract marks a significant addition following a series of important announcements made since the beginning of the second quarter of 2025, as Diriyah Company continues its ambitious vision to develop the historic area on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Group CEO of Diriyah Company Jerry Inzerillo signed the agreement with the three joint venture companies during a formal ceremony attended by Executive Vice President of Riyadh Life Sector at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Khalid Alhazani, marking this latest milestone in Diriyah’s ongoing construction momentum.
The opera house will become Diriyah’s primary center for performing arts and a unique architectural landmark, redefining the cultural landscape in the Kingdom. 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, which will be managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

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

The signing of the Royal Diriyah Opera House contract is part of a series of major projects announced in the first months of 2025, which included the launch of the “Media and Innovation District” and the awarding of an architecture and design contract worth SAR 426.3 million ($113.6 million) to Omrania, the Kingdom Tower architects, for buildings around Diriyah’s main avenue.

The opera house has been designed by renowned Norwegian architects Snøhetta Oslo AS and will feature a contemporary Najdi aesthetic, using natural materials such as palm, stone, and earth, with a clear focus on sustainability through water conservation, enhanced natural lighting, and measures for ventilation and thermal comfort. The project involves several specialized international companies, including Schlaich Bergermann Partner for structures and facades; Buro Happold and Saudi Diyar for MEP works; Theatre Projects as theatre and acoustics consultants; and JLL as cost consultants, supported by Plan A for design management.

Set to become an international center for theatrical arts, the Royal Diriyah Opera House will help anchor Diriyah’s place as the Kingdom’s cultural capital and a globally competitive destination for the arts. The project contributes to establishing Diriyah’s role as a key hub in shaping the future of live performances and cultural infrastructure.

Group CEO of Diriyah Company Jerry Inzerillo said: “The Royal Diriyah Opera House will be a landmark asset at Diriyah that will support Diriyah’s growing global role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural future, aligned with Vision 2030. This contract represents a significant step in our journey to develop a diverse range of assets across the Diriyah project area. 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”.

Executive Vice President of Riyadh Life Sector at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Khalid Alhazani stated: “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”.

The Diriyah project, one of the Public Investment Fund’s major initiatives, is an integrated urban development. Over the coming years, it is expected to provide homes for approximately 100,000 residents, office space for tens of thousands of professionals in the technology, media, arts, and education sectors, create 178,000 jobs, attract nearly 50 million annual visits, and contribute an estimated SAR 70 billion ($18.6 billion) to Saudi Arabia’s GDP.