Saudi PIF-backed Diriyah project awards $1.53bn arena contract to China Harbor

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The Diriyah project, located on the northwestern outskirts of the capital, Riyadh, is one of five giga-projects backed by PIF under the Vision 2030 plan. Supplied
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The Diriyah project, located on the northwestern outskirts of the capital, Riyadh, is one of five giga-projects backed by PIF under the Vision 2030 plan. Supplied
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The Diriyah project, located on the northwestern outskirts of the capital, Riyadh, is one of five giga-projects backed by PIF under the Vision 2030 plan. Supplied
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The Diriyah project, located on the northwestern outskirts of the capital, Riyadh, is one of five giga-projects backed by PIF under the Vision 2030 plan. Supplied
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Updated 16 July 2025
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Saudi PIF-backed Diriyah project awards $1.53bn arena contract to China Harbor

  • District will include Diriyah Arena, three mixed-use office buildings, and parking facility
  • It is expected to contribute around SR70 billion to GDP

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s entertainment landscape is set for a major boost with the awarding of a SR5.75 billion ($1.53 billion) contract to construct a 20,000-seat arena as part of the Diriyah development. 

Diriyah Co., a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has awarded the contract to a branch of China Harbor Engineering Co. for the Arena Block, a district that will include the Diriyah Arena, three mixed-use office buildings, and a parking facility, the company announced. 

Spanning approximately 74,000 sq. meters, the Diriyah Arena is designed to host concerts, sports, esports, exhibitions, and live performances to attract residents and international visitors. 

The Diriyah project, located on the northwestern outskirts of the capital, Riyadh, is one of five giga-projects backed by PIF under the Vision 2030 plan and aims to transform the Kingdom’s economic and tourism sectors. 

Upon completion, it is expected to contribute around SR70 billion to the gross domestic product, generate nearly 180,000 jobs, and accommodate approximately 100,000 residents. 

“The iconic Diriyah Arena will be a landmark entertainment complex in Diriyah that reinforces the City of Earth’s growing global role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s artistic and cultural future, in alignment with Vision 2030,” Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Co., said.

The contract is the latest step in the company’s ongoing 2025 development drive, marking continued progress on the project. 

Yang Zhiyuan, CEO of the Chinese firm for the Middle East, said: “CHEC will bring to the project a wealth of global experience, technical expertise, and a proven track record in delivering the complex.” 

Designed by global firm HKS Inc., the structure blends traditional Najdi architecture with modern elements, reflecting Diriyah’s cultural heritage and global outlook. 

The broader Arena Block will also include three mixed-use office buildings designed by John McAslan + Partners, covering 114,000 sq. meters, along with over 4,000 parking spaces to support the stadium and surrounding offices. 


Saudi Arabia boosts global 3D printing presence amid 20% annual growth

Updated 07 December 2025
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Saudi Arabia boosts global 3D printing presence amid 20% annual growth

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia aims to become the world’s fifth-largest 3D printing market by 2030, placing it at the center of global competition, Faisal Adnan, founder and CEO of Namthajah, told Al-Eqtisadiah.

Founded in 2015, Namthajah is a Saudi company specializing in 3D printing, with investments in the sector totaling around SR30 million ($8 million).

Adnan said the industry is experiencing rapid global growth, with the market valued at roughly $20 billion and an annual growth rate of 20 percent, adding that the sector is expected to expand to $100 billion over the next five years.

The CEO emphasized that this trend represents a strategic opportunity to expand Saudi industrial leadership and enhance the global competitiveness of its products, noting that the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is working to build advanced industries with added value based on knowledge and intellectual property.

Adnan added that Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies have become central to global industrial transformation, as highlighted at the current industrial exhibition focused on these advancements.

Modular production lines

Namthajah announced it has received a grant from the Innovative Factories Promotion Initiative to develop a modular production line for manufacturing 3D-printed structures, making it one of the first specialized production lines of this scale globally.

The company aims to expand to 200 advanced manufacturing centers worldwide over the coming years, up from 11 centers currently in Saudi Arabia, with its first international expansion to be announced before year-end.

Strategic partnerships 

Namthajah signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Industry to serve as an innovation partner with the Advanced Manufacturing Center, providing consulting services and support programs to promote 3D printing adoption across the local industrial sector.

The company is also preparing to announce a new agreement with China’s Enigma, one of the world’s largest 3D printing technology firms, to establish a center of excellence for developing metal part manufacturing applications for the energy sector.

This collaboration is expected to transfer advanced knowledge and develop high-quality industrial solutions, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for advanced tech industries.

Promising sector

These rapid initiatives highlight Saudi Arabia’s ambition to build a sophisticated 3D printing sector capable of enhancing the national economy and creating new industrial opportunities.

With international strategic partnerships and the development of innovative production lines, the Kingdom is paving the way for a new era of leadership in advanced manufacturing technologies regionally and globally.