Diriyah Gate

Diriyah Gate is a development, cultural, and tourism project in Diriyah, northwest of the city of Riyadh. It comprises an area inscribed on the World Heritage List and presents more than 600 years of the authentic culture and history of Saudi Arabia. [5]

Diriyah is the birthplace of Saudi Arabia and the capital of the First Saudi State, and there the Emirate of Diriyah was founded in 850 AH, corresponding to 1446 CE, by Prince Mani' bin Rabiah Al-Muraidi. [4][3]

Diriyah lies northwest of the city of Riyadh, about 25 kilometres from its center, and its dwellings are spread along the banks of Wadi Hanifah and its tributaries, between Ghasibah in the north and Al-Mulaibeed in the south; its area together with its associated centers is about 2,020 square kilometres. [2]

The origins of the emirate date back to the fifteenth century CE, when Prince Mani' bin Rabiah Al-Muraidi founded the Emirate of Diriyah in 850 AH, corresponding to 1446 CE, between Al-Mulaibeed and Ghasibah on the banks of Wadi Hanifah. [3]

The project includes an area inscribed on the World Heritage List, At-Turaif, which was inscribed in 2010 CE under criteria (iv), (v) and (vi); the property covers 28.78 hectares. [1]

At-Turaif was founded in the fifteenth century CE and bears the traces of the Najdi architectural style that is distinctive to the center of the Arabian Peninsula. It contains the remains of many palaces as well as a town built on the banks of the Diriyah oasis, and the number of Saudi sites inscribed on the World Heritage List has reached eight sites. [1][2]

Diriyah is linked to the emergence of the First Saudi State, of which it was the capital, and it marked a historic turning point in the Arabian Peninsula from 1157 AH, corresponding to 1727 CE. At-Turaif served as the center of government in the First Saudi State from 1180 AH, corresponding to 1766 CE, and it includes notable structures, among them Bayt Al-Mal and Sbalat Modhi. [2][3]

Al-Bujairi, on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifah, was the cultural and educational center of Diriyah during the era of the First Saudi State. In the eighteenth century and the early nineteenth century, At-Turaif became a center of Al Saud authority in the center of the Arabian Peninsula. [3][1]

Work on the project is carried out under an approved comprehensive master plan and by virtue of royal orders, among them Order No. 21805 dated 06/04/1443 AH and Order No. 61879, which concern procedures for the expropriation of property and compensation. Diriyah Company was launched in 2023 CE as the body responsible for developing the Diriyah project. Diriyah is the birthplace of Saudi Arabia and contains one of the areas inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Diriyah Company presents 300 years of the history of Saudi Arabia. [6][4]

The project is listed among the giga-projects of Saudi Vision 2030, presenting more than 600 years of authentic culture and history alongside residential districts that keep pace with a global lifestyle. In 1448 AH, corresponding to 2026 CE, the Diriyah Gate pavilion evoked the history of At-Turaif at the Falconry and Hunting Exhibition. [5][7]

Q: What is Diriyah Gate? A: It is a development, cultural, and tourism project in Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh, comprising an area inscribed on the World Heritage List and presenting more than 600 years of culture and history. [5]

Q: Where is Diriyah located? A: Northwest of the city of Riyadh, about 25 kilometres from its center, with its dwellings spread along the banks of Wadi Hanifah and its tributaries. [2]

Q: What is the significance of At-Turaif? A: It has been inscribed on the World Heritage List since 2010 CE and served as the center of government in the First Saudi State from 1180 AH, corresponding to 1766 CE. [1][3]

Q: When was the Emirate of Diriyah founded? A: In 850 AH, corresponding to 1446 CE, by Prince Mani' bin Rabiah Al-Muraidi. [3]

Q: Which body is responsible for developing the Diriyah project? A: Diriyah Company, which was launched in 2023 CE; the work is carried out under an approved comprehensive master plan. [4][6]