Turaif opening: UNESCO site opening in Diriyah 2022

There’s something old and something new waiting for you in Diriyah with the Turaif opening.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is officially opening on Sunday December 4.

The Diriyah area houses years of history and is considered to be the birthplace of the modern Saudi state, when it was founded back in 1727. Visitors will be able to stroll through restored Najdi-style mudbrick palaces, mosques, former defensive towers and curated galleries at the new Riyadh attraction.

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Additionally, Turaif will feature events, performances and activities to celebrate the the history of Kingdom.

There’s an immersive theatre called Nuzul which showcase live performances Turaif. You can also look forward to an Al Ardah performance, which is a folkloric group dance recognised as a UNESCO intangible heritage asset.

Ready to visit? You can explore Turaif all year round without a ticket until 4pm on weekdays (Sunday to Wednesday) and enjoy guided tours of the site in both English and Arabic. Turaif tickets will be required after 4pm during weekdays (Sunday to Wednesday) and will cost SAR100 each. On weekends (Thursday to Saturday), tickets will be required and cost SAR200 each.

Diriyah is located in the northwest region of the Saudi capital and is known for its traditional mud-brick architecture. The Riyadh district is home to one of the Vision 20230 giga-projects: Diriyah Gate. As part of the phased development, the area will welcome multiple restaurants, hotels, museums and shopping destinations, including Four Seasons, and Anantara.

MAIZ in Bujairi Terrace, part of the Turaif opening — MAIZ in Bujairi Terrace

If you’re hungry after all the exploring Turaif, you could head to head to Bujairi Terrace, which overlooks the site right after. The top-tier dining destination will be home to over 21 international restaurants in a 15,000-square-metre location. These include famous eateries such as Chez Bruno, TATEL, Hakkasan and Long Chim. As mentioned, Bujairi Terrace coincides with the Turaif opening, and also opens on December 4.

There is so much happening in Riyadh, and across Saudi. A new airport was just announced (set to be one of the largest), a new airline and exciting concerts (hello, Imagine Dragons) too. XP Music Futures is on now and Soundstorm 2022 starts this weekend. Don’t miss a moment.

Opens Sun Dec 4. Free until 4pm (Sun-Wed), From SAR100. Open Sun-Wed 10am-midnight, Thu 10am-1am, Fri-Sat 7am-1am. Turaif, Diriyah, tickets.diriyah.sa.