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Diriyah prepares more superblock tenders

8 July 2025

 

Saudi gigaproject developer Diriyah Company is preparing to tender more superblock packages this quarter, following the receipt of prequalification statements from interested firms last week.

MEED understands that notices were issued in mid-June for packages that include the Waldorf Astoria superblock and the Edition superblock, both located in the second phase of the Diriyah Gate development (DG2).

The Waldorf Astoria superblock is a mixed-use development featuring the Waldorf Astoria Residences & Hotel, commercial and residential facilities and office spaces.

The Waldorf Astoria Hotel is a 200-key property, whereas Waldorf Astoria Residences will offer over 46 branded residences.

The project is located along the Grand Boulevard South and the Northern Arterial Road in the Boulevard Northwestern district at DG2. 

The prequalification statements for this package were submitted on 29 June.

Prequalification statements for the Edition superblock were submitted on 2 July.

This package comprises a mix of residential, commercial and office spaces, including the 200-key Edition Hotel and 150-key Equinox Hotel.

The project is situated between King Khalid Road and the Grand Boulevard within the Boulevard East district in DG2.

Last week, MEED reported that Diriyah Company had received prequalification statements from firms interested in constructing the upcoming Radisson Red superblock in DG2.

The Radisson Red superblock comprises a hotel, residential apartments, retail facilities, commercial office spaces and a park.

The project is situated in the Boulevard East district, between King Khalid Road and the Grand Boulevard in Diriyah.

Diriyah also tendered a contract in April to build the new iconic museum in the DG2 area. 

The same month, MEED exclusively reported that the client had awarded an estimated SR4bn ($1.1bn) contract for a utilities relocation package for the King Saud University (KSU) project located in DG2.

The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Beijing-headquartered China Railway Construction Corporation and China Railway Construction Group Central Plain Construction Company.

Also in April, MEED reported that the company had awarded an estimated SR5bn ($1.3bn) construction deal to build the Royal Diriyah Opera House.

The contract was awarded to a joint venture of local firm El-Seif Engineering & Contracting, Beijing-headquartered China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Qatari firm Midmac Contracting.

Tendering activity is progressing on several other major schemes at Diriyah, including the King Khalid Road project, which passes through the development. The client received bids from firms in the second week of April for the main construction works on this project.

The client is also expected to finalise the contract award shortly for the Arena Block assets in the Boulevard Southwest section in the DG2 area.

Diriyah gigaproject

The Diriyah masterplan envisages the city as a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination. Located northwest of Riyadh’s city centre, it will cover 14 square kilometres and combine 300 years of history, culture and heritage with hospitality facilities.

The company awarded several significant contracts last year, including three contracts worth over SR21bn ($5.5bn). These included an estimated $2bn contract awarded to a joint venture of El-Seif Engineering & Contracting and China State to build the North Cultural District.

In July last year, Diriyah also awarded a $2.1bn package to a joint venture of local contractor Albawani and Qatar’s Urbacon to construct assets in the Wadi Safar district of the gigaproject.

Then in December, Diriyah Company awarded an estimated SR5.8bn ($1.5bn) contract to a joint venture of local firm Nesma & Partners and local branch of Man Enterprise for its Jabal Al-Qurain Avenue cultural district, located in the northern district of the Diriyah Gate project.

Once complete, Diriyah will have the capacity to accommodate 100,000 residents and visitors.

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Yasir Iqbal

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