Diriyah Gate: infrastructure for a heritage destination
Beneath the historic district of Diriyah, the infrastructure is taking shape that makes both possible: preserving the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif and developing Diriyah into an international cultural and tourism destination.
Diriyah is the birthplace of the first Saudi state. As part of Vision 2030, the approximately seven-square-kilometer area is being developed with hotels, residential neighborhoods, commercial spaces, and cultural facilities. The required utility infrastructure is being constructed in places just ten metres from the historic mud-brick buildings without compromising their preservation
On behalf of the Diriyah Company, Dorsch KSA is responsible for the planning and construction supervision of three infrastructure packages. These include the underground utility and wastewater infrastructure, the road and gas supply network, and the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant. A permanent on-site archaeologist and continuous vibration monitoring ensure that the historic structures are protected throughout the construction period.
Disciplines
- Urbanisation
- Wastewater
- Urban Infrastructure & Utilities
- Roads
Companies
Dorsch Holding GmbH KSA
Client
Diriyah Company
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Project Activities
Design review and construction supervision across three work packages:
- Underground utility networks: potable water, sewerage, stormwater, irrigation with reclaimed, gas, telecommunications and district cooling
- Power supply: high, medium and low voltage networks, 132/13.8 kV primary substations and emergency power systems
- Roads and public realm: road network and temporary ring road diversion, bridges and retaining structures, street lighting, landscaping and Najdi mud-brick architecture
- Utility tunnels, pumping stations, reservoirs and water tanks
- Safety and control systems: fire and life safety, ICT, CCTV, traffic signals, barriers and wayfinding signage
- Construction Site development: master planning, earthworks, perimeter walls and temporary works
- Gas supply under a design-build-operate contract
- Wastewater treatment plant: civil engineering for reactor structures and equalization basins, odor control, and chemical filtration
Impact
- Protection of the historic mud-brick structures of the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site during infrastructure works in their immediate vicinity, accompanied by continuous archaeological supervision and vibration monitoring throughout construction.
- Contributing to the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030 by providing the infrastructure for a new urban district that is intended to accommodate more than 50 million annual visitors, approximately 100,000 residents and around 178,000 jobs by 2030, with an anticipated economic contribution of more than SAR 70 billion.
- Collaboration with a local university on mud-brick and mud-plaster research, combining practical construction experience with academic expertise in heritage conservation.
- Smart water and energy infrastructure and sustainable mobility solutions supporting resource-efficient urban development and the long-term preservation of the historic district.
Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to making a positive impact and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This project contributes to the following SDGs:
Companies
