Diriyah Company awards $244mn contract for Grand Mosque in Diriyah’s Second Phase
The Grand Mosque in Diriyah’s second phase is designed to achieve LEED Gold and Mostadam Gold green building certification
Diriyah Company has entered into a joint venture contract worth US $244mn with Al-Majal El-Arabi Group and MAN Enterprise AlSaudia. This partnership aims to develop the Grand Mosque in Diriyah’s second phase. The mosque, designed by the firm X Architects, will have a gross floor area of 12,320sqm and can accommodate 11,400 worshipers.
The Grand Mosque in the second phase of Diriyah’s masterplan will serve as a symbol of urban development. It will have the capacity to accommodate up to 5,240 worshipers indoors and 6,160 worshipers outdoors. The mosque’s plaza will host community prayers during significant occasions like Eid and Ramadan.
The project will serve as a gathering space for various community events, including book fairs, cultural activities, and local produce markets on Fridays and weekends. The mosque will feature separate male and female prayer halls, ablution areas, a library overlooking Wadi Hanifah, and facility management offices, said the statement.
The Grand Mosque will boast an architectural style that fits modern engineering with Najdi-inspired design. This style is evident in its distinctive façades, iconic architecture, and elegant interior design. It will be one of 31 mosques planned for Diriyah. Together, these mosques will contribute to 74,300sqm of dedicated religious space, it added.
In line with the sustainability goals of the Diriyah development area, the Grand Mosque in Diriyah’s second phase is designed to achieve LEED Gold and Mostadam Gold green building certification. This is achieved through the use of a 3D mesh that allows ample natural sunlight to enter the building, while minimising heat impact, ensuring a comfortable environment for prayer.
In addition, the mosque will be integrated into Diriyah’s smart city infrastructure. This integration includes water supply, irrigation, power consumption, LEED and Mostadam monitoring, Fire and Life Safety (FLS), and security systems, all connected to the central Diriyah Operations Centre.
Jerry Inzerillo, Diriyah Company Group CEO commented, “The Grand Mosque in Diriyah’s second phase will be a landmark place of worship through its serene Najdi-inspired design, and is a beautiful monument that will further enrich The City of Earth’s spiritual and cultural landscape, as we build one of the world’s greatest gathering places. We look forward to seeing it come to life.”
Located on the outskirts of Riyadh, Diriyah is one of Saudi Arabia’s five giga-projects. This initiative is backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The Diriyah masterplan aims to create an integrated urban development project that will build homes for an estimated 100,000 people. It also seeks to generate over 180,000 jobs and attract 50m visitors annually by 2030. These goals are expected to have a significant impact on Saudi Arabia’s economy, contributing nearly $18.6bn directly to the country’s GDP.
