The Diriyah Company signed a USD 1.4 bn (SAR 5.1 bn) JV contract with three companies to construct the Royal Diriyah Opera House, it said in a statement on Wednesday. The three firms include homegrown El Seif Engineering Contracting, Qatar’s Midmac Construction, and China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The timeline for delivery was not disclosed.

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Project scope: The venue — which will be managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City — will feature a 2k-seat main opera theater set to be the largest in the Kingdom, along with a studio theater, shaded rooftop amphitheater, and multipurpose halls, totaling 3.1k seats.

Design details: The opera house was designed by Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta, featuring a contemporary Najdi aesthetic using materials like palm, stone, and earth. The design prioritizes sustainability, with features that support water conservation and temperature control while amplifying natural light.

Specialist consultants are supporting the design, with German structural engineering and consulting firm Schlaich Bergermann Partner working on structural and facade engineering, UK-based Buro Happold and Saudi Diyar on Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing works. Theatre Projects is also working on theatre and acoustics, while Plan A is handling on design management, and US-based JLL is handling cost management.

REMEMBER- All part of one big boulevard: The opera house will be located along Diriyah’s upcoming 1.9 km cultural boulevard — modeled after Paris’ Champs-Élysées — first revealed in February by CEO Jerry Inzerillo. The avenue will also feature the Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art and the world’s largest Apple Store.

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