Diriyah Company Awards $600 Million Contract For Retail Development In Saudi Arabia

The Diriyah Company has announced a substantial contract worth $600 million (SAR 2.249 billion) to Salini Saudi Arabia, a Webuild Group subsidiary. Diriyah Square, nestled within the heart of Diriyah, the City of Earth, is part of an expansive Najdi-inspired masterplan designed to foster a dynamic retail district. It will feature over 400 distinguished retail, leisure, and dining brands, focusing heavily on pedestrian-friendly spaces and extraordinary customer experiences.

The square aims to revolutionise the retail and leisure sectors in Diriyah and the wider Riyadh region by offering unmatched shopping, dining, and living options. This development is positioned as a pioneer, charting the future of retail and leisure experiences in the area.

The project encompasses the construction of 73 buildings and 400 retail units, spanning a total built-up area of 365,340m2. These structures will not only house retail spaces but also include facades, finishes, and fit-outs, emphasizing the traditional Najdi architectural motifs.

This design approach aims to reflect Diriyah’s rich heritage and history, creating a distinctive pedestrianized retail setting in the city’s core. Through this, Diriyah Square will seamlessly blend the world's premier brands with local artisan products, fostering a unique cultural and leisure hub.

Diriyah Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo remarked, "Diriyah Square is one of our most exciting, anticipated and prestigious districts, and we are extremely pleased to have signed with Salini to deliver it, bringing their immense global experience to the table. It is yet another significant milestone in our development journey and will help set the stage for Diriyah Square's retail spaces to welcome a diverse array of shoppers from our residential communities, surrounding office spaces and the millions who visit us every year."

Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild, stated, "We are proud to contribute to a project of such symbolic and strategic importance to Saudi Arabia. This will further strengthen our presence in the Kingdom and positively impact both the area and the local community. We are excited about developing this new phase of Diriyah Square, an integral part of an iconic project. The Webuild Group has been present in Saudi Arabia since 1966, delivering more than 90 projects. We remain committed to supporting the Kingdom in developing some of the world's most complex infrastructure projects, particularly in areas such as civil buildings, sustainable mobility, and desalination."

The Diriyah Square project forms a central part of the larger SAR 237 billion ($63.2 billion) development spanning 14 square kilometers, which aims to introduce around 1000 outlets in total. It’s a keystone in the transformation of Diriyah, the City of Earth, expected to inject approximately $18.6 billion (SAR 70 billion) directly into Saudi Arabia’s GDP, generate nearly 180,000 jobs, and accommodate around 100,000 residents.

The area will also feature modern office spaces, museums, a university, The Royal Diriyah Opera House, world-class hotels, and recreational facilities like the Royal Golf Club and the Royal Equestrian & Polo Club, enhancing the region's cultural and economic landscape.

With the engagement of Salini Saudi Arabia for the Diriyah Square project, the Diriyah Company has now surpassed SAR 100 billion ($26 billion) in contract awards. This milestone, achieved with over SAR 20 billion ($5 billion) in contracts awarded in just the first half of 2025, marks a significant leap in the development of Diriyah, setting a new benchmark for the city’s growth and its contribution to the Kingdom's broader economic and cultural advancements.