Diriyah: Diriyah Company announced in a press release today that it has signed a joint venture contract worth approximately $244 million (SAR917 million) for the development of the Grand Mosque as part of Diriyah's second phase. The contract has been awarded to AlMajal AlArabi Group and MAN Enterprise AlSaudia LLC.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the mosque, designed by the award-winning firm X Architects, will accommodate 11,400 worshippers with up to 5,240 worshippers indoors and 6,160 outdoors, spanning a gross floor area of 12,320 square meters. The release emphasized that the Grand Mosque is set to become a prominent symbol of urban development centered around the historic birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The mosque's plaza will host community prayers during significant occasions such as Eid and Ramadan.
The release also highlighted that the mosque will serve as a gathering place for community events, including book fairs, cultural activities, and local produce markets on Fridays and weekends. It will feature separate male and female prayer halls, ablution areas, a library offering views of Wadi Hanifah, and facility management offices.
The architectural style of the Diriyah Grand Mosque will integrate modern engineering with Najdi-inspired design, featuring distinctive fa§ades, iconic architecture, and an elegant interior. In alignment with other assets across the Diriyah development area, the mosque aims to achieve LEED Gold and Mostadam Gold green building certifications. The design incorporates a 3D mesh to allow natural sunlight while minimizing heat impact, ensuring comfort within the prayer hall.
The mosque will be seamlessly integrated into Diriyah's smart city infrastructure, with systems for water supply, irrigation, power consumption, and security all connected to the central Diriyah Operations Center. Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo remarked that the mosque will be a landmark place of worship, embodying serene Najdi-inspired design.
Part of a larger masterplan, the Grand Mosque is one of 31 mosques planned for Diriyah, contributing to 74,300 square meters of dedicated religious space. Developed on the outskirts of Riyadh, Diriyah is one of Saudi Arabia's giga-projects backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The urban development project aims to provide homes for 100,000 people, create over 180,000 jobs, attract 50 million annual visitors by 2030, and contribute nearly $18.6 billion directly to Saudi Arabia's GDP.