Plans for the Royal Diriyah Opera House to be constructed in Diriyah's historic quarters unveiled

he Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Diriyah Company, on Thursday, jointly unveiled the designs for the Royal Diriyah Opera House. The building will be built in Diriyah's ancient neighbourhoods, which is a very significant cultural location in Saudi Arabia. This was made public during the Bashayer 2023 Event, which also signalled the start of a collaboration with the internationally renowned architectural company Snøhetta on the opera house's design. Moreover, Syn Architects from Riyadh will collaborate, offering the project their unique perspective on local architecture.

Situated next to Al Turaif, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Diriyah, will be the Royal Diriyah Opera House, a trailblazing cultural centre in the Kingdom. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) and Diriyah Company are overseeing this project, which demonstrates Saudi Arabia's commitment to both its historical heritage and its vision for the future. The opera house, which will have a 45,000 square metre footprint and be a focal point of the second phase of the Diriyah project, will highlight Diriyah as a hub of global cultural and creative excellence in line with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.

The opera house was highlighted by Ibrahim Al-Sultan, Minister of State and CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, as a representation of Riyadh's goal to be a leader in innovative architecture and culture. 

The Royal Diriyah Opera House is set to incorporate traditional Najdi architecture with the imaginative and sustainable designs of Snøhetta. Snøhetta co-founder Kjetil Thorsen emphasised the value of fusing history and contemporary design to produce a cultural landmark that is recognisable around the world. Inspired by the architecture of Najdi, the design will combine tradition and modernity, advancing Diriyah's goal of developing communities that are centred around culture.

In order to promote cross-cultural interaction and exchange, the Royal Diriyah Opera House is designed to showcase a range of cultural acts. The RCRC wants to make Riyadh a premier worldwide metropolis to live, work, and visit, and this initiative will help them achieve that aim. Strategic alliances between Diriyah Company and companies like Snøhetta are poised to create new standards for architectural and cultural urban development. The Royal Diriyah Opera House is a wonderful example of Diriyah's commitment to promoting culture and legacy both inside and outside of the Kingdom.