Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Co. has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Kakao Mobility to develop smart mobility infrastructure in Diriyah, one of the Kingdom’s flagship giga-projects backed by the Public Investment Fund. The agreement, announced on X, aims to deliver integrated transport and digital mobility solutions for the historic city, which is expected to welcome over 50 million annual visitors during its first phase.
Kakao Mobility, a subsidiary of Kakao Corporation, one of South Korea’s leading technology companies, will support the implementation of smart parking systems, digital transit services, and advanced traffic management tools, with a first pilot launching in 2025. The initiative contributes to Vision 2030’s push for urban innovation and economic diversification, while also supporting the National Tourism Strategy’s goal of attracting 150 million annual visitors by the end of the decade.
Located just outside Riyadh, Diriyah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of the First Saudi State. It is now being transformed into a global cultural and tourism destination as part of Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects portfolio, which also includes NEOM, Red Sea Global, and Qiddiya. The development spans over 14 square kilometers and is set to include museums, luxury hotels, cultural institutions, and residential communities designed in traditional Najdi architecture.
The Diriyah project is expected to contribute SAR 18.6 billion ($4.96 billion) to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and create around 178,000 jobs upon completion. In April, the company awarded a SAR 5.1 billion contract to build the Royal Diriyah Opera House, a landmark project led by El-Seif Engineering, Midmac Contracting, and China State Construction.
Through strategic international partnerships like this, Saudi Arabia is positioning Diriyah as a model of sustainable urban development rooted in heritage and driven by smart technologies.
Are you ready to tap into the transformative potential of Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects like Diriyah, NEOM, and beyond? HARIS Consultancy provides expert guidance and customized strategies to navigate these transformative opportunities. Contact us today for a personalized consultation: info@harisconsultancy.com.
