Armani to open its third hotel in Saudi Arabia's historic Diriyah district

Other Armani Hotel properties are located in Dubai and Milan

The Armani Hotel in Riyadh’s Diriyah district will have 70 rooms and will be connected to 18 exclusive Armani-branded residences. Photo: SPA

A new Armani Hotel is coming to Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah district. This will be the property’s third hotel, after locations in Dubai and Milan, and it will be managed by Dubai's Emaar Hospitality Group.

Overlooking Diriyah's retail quarter, the property will have 70 rooms and two restaurants, with suites having their own swimming pool and spa facilities, in addition to the hotel's communal offerings. The property will also be connected to 18 exclusive Armani-branded residences — designed and furnished by Giorgio Armani — with spacious interiors, outdoor pools and landscaped terraces and rooftops.

As part of plans to develop the area into a leading historic tourism destination, 11 square kilometres of Diriyah are being regenerated into a mixed-use urban community, embracing the Najdi architectural style typical of traditional Saudi villages. Led by the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, the project will include cultural institutions and museums, galleries, restaurants, luxury retail, public squares, hotels, recreational spaces, residences, educational institutions and offices.

Diriyah is located within the Riyadh province, 15 minutes north-west of the capital city's centre. At its heart sits At-Turaif, which was built in about 1766 and is recognised as one of the world’s foremost mud-brick cities. It was designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2010.

Scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Diriyah.

“This is a pioneering project that was born from rediscovering Saudi Arabia’s roots: a dialogue between history and the present that I find very fascinating. Armani Hotel Diriyah allows me to interpret my idea of lifestyle and hospitality in a particularly subtle and embracing way," said Armani.

"After celebrating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Armani Hotels in Milan and Dubai, I am ready to take on this exciting new challenge. I am inspired by this initiative and delighted to be part of a project of such wide geographical and cultural scope."

The first Armani-branded hotel, Armani Hotel Dubai, opened in Burj Khalifa in 2010, spanning more than 40,000 square metres and comprising 160 rooms and suites, nine restaurants and a spa. There are also 144 residencies. Armani Hotel Milano opened in 2011 and has 95 rooms, a business centre, gym, spa and an Armani Ristorante.