A ground-breaking ceremony was held today for the €840-million Diriyah Square – Package 2 Super-Basement Works, a mega, multi-level car park to be built by Webuild for 10,500 vehicles in Riyadh. The three-story underground garage covering nearly 1 million square metres lies at the heart of an ambitious urban development project in Ad Diriyah, the historic district and UNESCO heritage site at the northwest of Riyadh. Led by Webuild, its construction will employ 9,000 people as it unites tradition with development.

Commissioned by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, the contract will be executed by Webuild through its subsidiary Salini Saudi Arabia. It includes the civil and structural works, tunnels and other connections for the district’s huge car park in a new district along the Western Ring Road. The architecture and design of the district will take inspiration from the traditional Najdi style. It will cover 7 square kilometres and include the development of a network of pedestrian streets, public squares, courtyards, souks and bazaars to recreate the authenticity of a Saudi village. 

Webuild has been active in Saudi Arabia since 1966, when it began hydraulic works in Mecca, Jeddah and Riyadh. It has since built 50 health centres, some large, as well as projects of international renown in Riyadh such as the Al Faisaliah District Redevelopment Project and the Kingdom Centre, an iconic building that was awarded the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2002 as best skyscraper in the world for design. The Group’s subsidiary Fisia Italimpianti also built the Shuaibah III Expansion II IWP desalination plant.

Webuild is currently working on Line 3, which at 42 kilometres is the longest of the lines that will make up the Riyadh metro system. It is also building the SANG Villas housing and urbanisation project in Riyadh, and the expansion of the King Faisal Air Academy and King Salman Air Base.