DIRIYAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman inaugurated the Diriyah Gate project on Wednesday by laying the foundational stone to mark the launch of one of the Kingdom's most important projects. The project is a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination for the Kingdom with a UNESCO World Heritage Site at its heart. King Salman was received by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, Governor of the Riyadh region Prince Faisal Bin Bandar, Deputy Governor of the Riyadh region Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman and several senior officials. This cornerstone-laying event comes as the Kingdom continues its pioneering plans to welcome visitors from near and far, and underlines Saudi Arabia's mission to showcase the cultural icon to the world as one of its great gathering places. Diriyah Gate's masterplan features five iconic meeting places to gather share and congregate such as King Salman Square, Samhan Amphitheatre, The Heroes Memorial Plaza, The Mosque Square, and the Historical Village. Five academies will be found in the Art District of Diriyah Gate providing learning across several local specializations including Arabic Calligraphy and Islamic Arts, Najdi architecture and Adobe buildings, Najdi culinary arts, Theater and Arabic Music. Six museum's have been announced and they include: The House of Al Saud, the Art Museum, The Saudi States and Arabian Peninsula Museum, The 100 Stories Museum, The Diriyah Arts Center, Digital Art Museum and the MiSK Heritage Museum. The Diriyah Gate will also hold a 15,000-seat entertainment arena to view international artists, global sporting events and more. With more than 100 restaurants spanning the Diriyah Gate project, the offerings will include both local and international cuisine and fine dining experiences. More than 20 unique hotels and resorts providing more than 3,100 luxury hotel rooms are also planned — ranging from 40-key boutique urban offerings in the Art District to larger 300-key integrated resorts overlooking the Wadi Hanifah. The seven square kilometer giga project will become one of Saudi Arabia's cultural and lifestyle destinations with places to gather, explore, shop, dine, live and work. Appealing to international tourists and local citizens seeking authentic and cultural experiences, the destination will celebrate the rich cultural history of Saudi Arabia.
