Why Diriyah is set to be Saudi’s next tourism hotspot

Dubbed the City of Earth, Diriyah’s reimagining is not some distant dream. Already home to museums, galleries, restaurants, retail and a luxury hotel, it’s a must-visit on any trip to Riyadh and has attracted 3 million visitors – yet with only 4% of the project completed, its full potential is still to come. 

 

The numbers are eye-catching: once finished, Diriyah will boast 40 luxury hotels, 300 branded residences, 1,000 shops, 150 restaurants and cafes and 26 arts and culture centres. The vision extends further, with plans for a university, the 20,000-seat Royal Diriyah Opera House, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Greg Norman, plus an equestrian and polo centre. Four Metro stations, extensive bike and horse riding trails and walkways are all part of the plan to create the world’s largest pedestrian-friendly culture and heritage destination.

 

Despite the scale of development, Diriyah remains deeply rooted in its heritage, with every hotel, residence and retail space designed with a consistent low-rise profile and a cohesive Najdi aesthetic, ensuring the city’s visual identity remains unmistakably authentic.

This commitment to tradition and innovation has not gone unnoticed, with Diriyah Art Futures named among the world’s most beautiful museums by Prix Versailles for its landscape-inspired Najdi architecture, and the city making history as the world’s first tourism destination to receive its own official Pantone colour, ‘Diriyah Tan’. 

 

Yet Diriyah’s momentum goes far beyond aesthetics. Its inclusion on Time’s 100 Most Influential Companies list in 2025 is not only a recognition of its dedication to heritage, but also a testament to its ability to redefine the future of tourism, with over US$1 billion in international partnerships underscoring its real-world impact.

 

Diriyah is shaping the future of tourism

 

Diriyah to be a luxury hotels hotspot

Diriyah’s transformation into a world-class destination is matched by its ambitious hospitality offering, which will extend to more than 40 hotels. 

 

The first of those is Bab Samhan, A Luxury Collection Hotel, within strolling distance of At-Turaif and offering immersion in authentic Saudi culture, from cuisine to curated experiences such as in-house poetry readings. 

 

Like nearby At-Turaif, the 157-key hotel’s low-slung mud-brick structures reflect the Najdi architectural with winding alleyways that weave through the property, opening onto airy, lantern-lit courtyards filled with fig and olive trees. Interiors feature intricate mosaic work and local artistry, from handwoven textiles to carved wooden frames that envelop modern trappings such as televisions. Some rooms have private balconies with panoramic desert views.

 

The cuisine is equally rooted in local tradition, with Taleed by Michael Mina serving the lauded chef’s creative approach to Saudi spice with Mediterranean influences. 

Other prestigious hotel brands announced for Diriyah read like a Who’s Who of the hospitality world: Ritz-Carlton, Six Senses, Waldorf Astoria, Taj, Aman, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, The Langham, Orient Express, Anantara, Montage, The Chedi, Oberoi, Baccarat, Corinthia, Rosewood, Raffles, Address, Treehouse, Faena and Fusion. Most will be operational as early as 2027 in time for Diriyah’s tricentennial.

 

There is also the Saudi debut of Armani Hotel Diriyah, which broke ground in November 2024. It will include 70 rooms and suites, accompanied by 15 Armani Residences.

 

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Other luxury residences include The Ritz-Carlton Residences Diriyah, The Ritz-Carlton Signature Collection Diriyah, Raffles Residences Diriyah, Corinthia Residences Diriyah and Baccarat Residences Diriyah. Aman, Faena and Chedi Residences will all overlook the golf course at Wadi Safar.

 

Poised to become Riyadh’s most coveted address, Wadi Safar sits atop a hill with direct access to Diriyah, offering a lifestyle centred on sport and wellness. Alongside its art gallery, a retail precinct and golf course, the community will feature equestrian, tennis, and shooting clubs, as well as a residents-only members’ club.

 

Rendering of Amansamar, part of the Wadi Safar development in Riyadh

 

Exploring Unesco-recognised At-Turaif

Today, the main attraction for visitors is the impressive At-Turaif site. Guided tours give a greater understanding of the site’s history and Saudi culture at the visitors’ centre. Even better, visitors can explore the preserved mud city’s narrow alleyways independently, stumbling across curated mini museums dedicated to all aspects of life in the ancient city, from the importance of the Arabian horse to systems of taxation and trade.

 

It’s a fascinating and sensitively managed site best explored at sunset, when Golden Hour brings the best photo opportunities to capture Diriyah’s sand structures. After dark, atmospheric lighting ramps up the spectacle at this open-air museum, with projections bringing its many stories to life.

 

Exploring the alleyways at At-Turaif, Diriyah

 

Also under construction is the Misk Heritage Museum Asaan, dedicated to Saudi heritage and culture inspired by Najdi architecture but interpreted by Zaha Hadid Architects. The 40,000 square-metre space will offer workshops on traditional arts, crafts and customs.

 

Dining at Bujairi Terrace

There are a couple of cafes in At-Turaif with terraces to soak up the surroundings, but any trip to Diriyah demands a stop at Bujairi Terrace located just opposite.

 

Designed in the same Najdi style, Bujairi Terrace is a dining destination showcasing cuisines from around the world, and with temperatures in Diriyah up to seven degrees cooler than central Riyadh, restaurants include both indoor and outdoor experiences year-round.

 

There are currently around 27 outlets to choose from, ranging from casual coffee shop Joe & The Juice to specialist Saudi restaurants Takya, Maiz and Aseeb. 

 

Outdoor dining at Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah

 

There’s also an outpost of Michelin-starred Thai street food restaurant Long Chim, the only branch of Cafe de L’Esplanade outside of France, and Sarabeth’s, serving a taste of New York City.

 

Tatel is another Michelin-starred restaurant making its Middle East debut here, set to dish up stylish Spanish and Mediterranean dishes.

 

Under the guidance of chef Roaya Saleh, Villa Mamas takes Middle Eastern dishes to new heights with a focus on using locally sourced produce from the kingdom in each dish, from za’atar and olive oil to vegetables.

 

Bujairi Terrace in Diriyah

 

A refined retail and cultural hub

No city would be complete without a business district and Zallal will blend retail, restaurants and office spaces – with Diriyah eventually having work space for up to 100,000 people. The low-rise Zallal is designed to have walkable streets with shaded courtyards and terraces. Guests can check out the flagship retail experience Saudi Artisanal, showcasing authentic, high-quality crafts from local designers.

 

The upcoming Diriyah Square will become one of the kingdom’s largest shopping destinations, with 450 luxury brands, restaurants and cafes.

 

Diriyah’s ambition to become a cultural centre is bolstered by the addition of the Royal Diriyah Opera House (the first in Saudi), the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena and Diriyah Art Futures centre dedicated entirely to digital art.

 

Diriyah Art Futures named among the world’s beautiful museums

 

Art aficionados can check out the JAZ District, founded 50 years ago as a series of warehouses and reinvented in 2021. There’s the members-only Beast House club, art exhibitions and installations that draw a young Saudi crowd and support local talent.

 

Nature lovers will appreciate the 6.5 million indigenous trees, plants and shrubs that are being planted to transform Diriyah into a green oasis. Visitors will be able to wander nature trails, enjoy the open spaces and take part in wellness and cultural activities inspired by the natural habitat.

 

Diriyah is a bold ambition. Once complete, it will be a rare proposition: a modern city inspired by ancient design and sustainable principles. For now, it’s fast becoming one of the region’s hottest tourism destinations.

 

For more information, visit www.diriyah.sa