Saudi UNESCO site to welcome heritage hotel

A heritage hotel is planned for the Ad’Diriyah Saudi UNESCO site on the outskirts of Riyadh.

Details of a new five-star heritage hotel on the Ad’Diriyah Saudi UNESCO site have been revealed by Italian engineering consulting firm D’Appolonia, according to Gulf Business.

The property is set to be located in the historical Samhan District of Ad’Diriyah of Riyadh.

The RINA Group unit said the contract from Nuzul Saudi Heritage Hospitality Company was part of plans by Saudi Arabia’s Commission for Tourism and National Heritage to maintain and utilise national heritage sites.

“We are pleased to be able to preserve the integrity and heritage of these historic buildings. Ensuring that the design is environmentally friendly and energy efficient has been a key consideration in making the site available for modern use in a sustainable way, that will mean it lasts for years to come,” said D’Appolonia project manager Andrea Tomarchio.

The property will aim to imitate the design of the site's mud buildings.

Saudi Arabia plans to double its tourism sector by 2020, under the Vision 2030 plan. To achieve this goal the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage has set out plans to utilise the many historical sites in the Kingdom as tourist attractions.