Diriyah begins second-phase work with $202m contract

Diriyah Company, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has awarded a SAR758.5 million ($202.2 million) contract to China Harbour Engineering Company for bulk excavation works in the second phase of the Diriyah giga-project.

The excavation will span 6.3 sq km, covering much of the second phase of the 14 sq km development.

More than 600 heavy machines will be deployed to prepare the foundation for key cultural assets, including the Royal Diriyah Opera House and the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena.

Excavated materials will be crushed and repurposed for road bases, landscaping and backfill, meeting international sustainability guidelines and circular economy principles.

Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said that the excavation is ahead of schedule, ensuring smooth progress for the project’s cultural assets.

Yang Zhiyuan, CEO of China Harbour Engineering Company (Middle East), said the focus will be environmental protection and sustainable development concepts during implementation to ensure timely delivery.

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This year, Diriyah has awarded contracts worth $5.8 billion, including $1.55 billion for the Qurain Cultural District, $2 billion for the Northern District, and $2.13 billion for luxury hotels and the Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club in Wadi Safar.

Once completed, the Diriyah project will provide homes for 100,000 people, create 178,000 jobs, attract 50 million annual visitors and contribute $18.6 billion to the kingdom’s economy.

The historical district of Diriyah, one of Saudi Arabia’s major giga-projects, will be completed in time for the World Expo in 2030 – three years later than previously announced, it was announced in October.