Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) Project: What You Should Know

Since Saudi Arabia opened its doors to travelers from 49 countries around the world in 2019, visitors have had the opportunity to discover the many wonders the Kingdom has to offer. From the luxurious resorts and shopping found in the capital city of Riyadh to the historical significance of the Al-Ula region and the ancient old town in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has something for every type of traveler, including couples, families with children and especially adventure travelers.

Of course, the Kingdom is still at work developing a range of new projects for tourists to enjoy over the next few decades. This includes the famous Red Sea Project, which is a luxury resort destination that is being developed across 50 natural and untouched natural islands along 200 kilometers of Saudi Arabia's coastline.

Another lesser-known plan in the works in the Kingdom is the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) project, which aims to be "one of the world's foremost lifestyle destinations for culture and heritage, hospitality, retail, and education, and will become one of the world's great gathering places," according to Saudi Vision 2030.

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) project is an ambitious tourism initiative in Saudi Arabia that hopes to pull in travelers from all over the world in the coming decades. With a location on the outskirts of the capital city of Riyadh, this project is centered around the historic center of Diriyah and the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site, an iconic mud-brick city with roots that date back to the 15th century.

At-Turaif was actually the first capital of the Saudi dynasty, and the site is remarkably well-preserved considering its construction and the hundreds of years that have passed. Visitors here can learn about the history of Saudi Arabia, and they can even explore its castles and buildings firsthand.

That said, improving At-Turaif is only one aspect of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) project, and the plan has multiple objectives. The first is promoting the cultural heritage and history found in Saudi Arabia. Others include improving employment opportunities for locals in Saudi Arabia and creating an environment that makes it possible to host world-class cultural entertainment events.

With these objectives in mind, other developments within the project include: