Diriyah Company has entered into a $1.4bn (SR5.1bn) joint venture (JV) contract for the construction of the Royal Diriyah Opera House, which is expected to become a new cultural landmark in Diriyah, on the outskirts of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The agreement for the development has been signed with El Seif Engineering Contracting, Midmac Construction, and China State Construction Engineering.
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The Royal Diriyah Opera House will serve as a venue for performing arts in the region, featuring a 2,000-seat main opera theatre, which will be the “largest” in Saudi Arabia.
This venue, managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, will also feature a studio theatre, a shaded rooftop amphitheatre, and multipurpose halls, bringing the total seating capacity to 3,100.
The design of the opera house, crafted by Norwegian architects Snøhetta Oslo, integrates a contemporary Najdi aesthetic with sustainable features such as water conservation, natural lighting, and thermal comfort measures.
The design and engineering team includes German structural engineering firm Schlaich Bergermann Partner, engineering consultants Buro Happold and Saudi Diyar.
Theatre Projects will serve as theatre and acoustics consultants, with JLL as cost consultants and Plan A providing design management support.
The development of the Royal Diriyah Opera House is part of a series of major project announcements made by Diriyah Company in 2025.
These include the launch of the Media and Innovation District at MIPIM in Cannes, the awarding of architecture and design contracts for buildings around Diriyah’s main avenue, and the establishment of key electricity sub-stations.
Additionally, the company has appointed Giza Systems for the Smart City initiative, selected IBM Maximo Application Suite for asset management, launched Saudi Arabia’s first Armani-branded residences.
In July 2024, Diriyah Company announced a $2.13bn contract for the construction of four luxury hotels and the Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club.
Backed by the Public Investment Fund, the Diriyah project aims to provide housing for over 100,000 residents, office space for professionals, create an estimated 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million annual visits, and contribute $18.6bn (SR70bn) directly to Saudi Arabia’s GDP.
Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo 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 the world’s greatest gathering places to experience unforgettable performances.”
