First Opera House in Saudi Arabia Will Be Built in Diriyah

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is building its first opera house in Riyadh's historic district of Diriyah.

The Royal Diriyah Opera House, which will be designed by Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta in collaboration with Riyadh's Syn Architects, is expected to open its doors in three to four years.

With Diriyah considered the birthplace of the Kingdom, the Royal Diriyah Opera House will be designed to reflect the district's rich architectural history, incorporating local materials like mud, stone and palm. The opera house will include a world-class 2,000-seat venue, an 'adaptable theatre' with a moveable stage and seats, a multipurpose hall with an outdoor terrace, and an outdoor amphitheatre on the top of the house.

The opera house will be a non-resident opera house, meaning that all of the performances will  come from other opera houses and performance troupes. The Royal Diriyah Opera House is considered a key project in the second phase of the Diriyah developmental master plan, which includes a contemporary arts museum and a 20,000-seat arena.