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RIYADH: The first phase of an ambitious project conceived five years ago with the aim of showcasing the history of the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has come to fruition as planned.

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority’s At-Turaif and Bujairi Terraces developments were officially unveiled on Monday during the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Global Summit.

Delegates from around the world, Saudi public figures and DGDA staff came together to witness a momentous development as Diriyah opened its doors to the international community.

“Tonight is a very historic night,” DGDA CEO Jerry Inzerillo told Arab News. “We are celebrating two big milestones.

“For the first time in the history of the Gulf, the Kingdom is welcoming the World Travel and Tourism Council, all ministers of tourism, CEOs of hotel companies, CEOs of airline companies – 5,000 people coming to the Kingdom to see what is happening is to become one of the great tourist countries of the world.

Inzerillo described what it means to him personally to see the fruits of his team’s labor in Diriyah before the eyes of the world.

“It makes my heart pound because the thing I am most proud of is that we now have 1,600 employees: 85 percent Saudis, 36 percent Saudi superstar women, 16 percent of whom are in management, and our employees 14 percent is from Dariyah. , My heart and soul is my team and that is what I am most proud of.

Injerillo’s wife, Prudence Solomon Injerillo, said: “I think the changes are profound and I think the whole devotion and commitment to celebrating the culture, the heritage, the history art… I think it’s an incredible gift, This is really important.

“I think everyone should appreciate your history and culture. It is so rich and diverse and I think it is a real privilege and pleasure to be here to see the changes that have taken place over the last four plus years and it is extraordinary.

Festivities began at the birthplace of the empire, and the first ruling base of the Al-Saud family, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif. In front of the Salwa Palace, a 10,000-square-metre complex, the core parts of which were built by the first ruler of the first Saudi state, Mohammed ibn Saud, tour guides wait to show visitors around the site, once a quick walk through After walking along the walkway. Saudi ruler.

In At-Turaif’s ancient buildings, every handmade mud brick tells a story, every wall holds the secrets of power struggles, and every corner hides a story of hospitality and unity.

Visitors from all over the world not only witnessed the modernity and luxury of the present-day kingdom, but were also able to take a step back in time by watching live performances of the traditional Arda dance and walk the narrow passageways that give an atmospheric portrait of the kingdom. Used to paint Past.

The guests at this private event marking the official opening of Bujairi and At-Turaif represented a diverse assemblage of visitors from many countries.

Guadalupe Galván Hernández, for example, was visiting Mexico City to attend the World Travel and Tourism Council summit.

“This is my first time in Saudi Arabia,” she told Arab News. “I’ve seen a lot. Diriyah is amazing; it’s all history. When we arrived we saw a lot of structures and it’s a mix of modernity and traditions.

“The people are very kind, they are very nice people. Sometimes when you come from a country like Mexico it is difficult to understand some things and it scares you, somehow, the way you will be treated and they (The Saudis) were really, really kind and nice people.

After a tour of At-Turaif and the demonstrations there, guests made their way to the gates of Bujairi Terrace, where Injerillo and Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib gave the opening speech. Injerillo began by praising the Saudi leadership.

“I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to our dynamic Prime Minister, our Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been instrumental in every detail of the Vision 2030 master plan for Diriyah,” he added.

“And thanks to their support, we are one of the Giga projects tonight – on this historic night, in the birthplace of the kingdom, the Arabian Peninsula, the ancestral home of the Al-Saud – we open a 2030 property in 2022.”

Al-Khatib said: “Today we are celebrating the opening of the first phase, (which is) just 1 to 2 percent of the total project, and we thank you for being with us today.

“It is a testimony and proof that Saudi Arabia has started its planning and now we are in the execution phase and you will see openings every year in all giga projects. Diriyah is a good example with the opening of Bujairi Terraces.

Several DGDA employees could not hide their emotions as the doors of Buajiri Terrace opened to welcome the world.

Among the guests at the inauguration was Helena Zakade Inzerillo, the teenage daughter of the CEO of the DGDA. In 2019, at the age of 12, she spoke to Arab News during the inauguration of King Salman’s Diriyah Gate project and explained how proud she was of her father and his mission to transform the city “with his heart and soul”.

Three years later, she was happy to be back at Bujairi Terrace to see her father’s passion and ambitions come to fruition.

“When I first came four years ago and saw Diriya, I was in absolute shock,” she said. “I mean, it’s an absolutely beautiful place that no one really knew about outside of the state.

“I really believe that people should visit this place, people should know about this place and its importance.

“To see this, to see the success, to see so many people from all over the world, and to see people’s attitudes completely change when they arrive in Saudi Arabia, and to see the hospitality of the people here and the importance To see our country here, it means a lot to me.”

Helena states that she truly believes in her father’s mission to spread to the world the message and meaning of Diriyah and its importance for the kingdom.

“It means a lot to me, to my whole family,” she said. “We have seen the process over the past four years, the amount of hard work, the tireless hours of work my dad has put in here in Saudi for the past four years.

“And we’ve seen the transformation of Diriyah’s Riyadh, and the passion my dad has spread to the place and how much he loves the place.”

The aroma of Bukhor filled the air and the sound of seminal music reverberated through Wadi Hanifa as history and modernity merged in the form of several luxury dining experiences. After a lavish dinner in the Bujairi Terrace, a light show illuminates the walkways and walls of At-Turaif.

A laser and pyrotechnic display illuminated the architecture surrounding the Salwa palace and the sky above it with the words “City of Earth,” “Only One Diriyah,” and simply “Dirriyah”.

“As a 2030 giga project, we are already opening the property in 2022,” Inzerillo said. “So Turaf, did it all over again; Bujairi District, 20 new restaurants and after tonight we will take a few and open to the public in a few days; 2 km to Wadi Hanifa; new sales centers; reception center; Community centre. So 2030 is now 2022.

At-Turaif and Boujairi Terrace will officially open to the public on December 4, and Inzarello outlines what’s next in store.

“After tonight we’re going to open up a lot of assets,” he said. “We have the first hotel under construction which will open next year, the first museum which will open next year, we have already planted 6 million trees on the way to 50 million trees, saplings and shrubs.

“Every year now we will open assets, we will break assets and we will announce assets every year until 2030.”

Diriyah has long been renowned for its hospitality and generosity, its strength and its might – now it opens its gates to the world to give visitors a taste of the past and a glimpse of the future.