RIYADH: US-based Parsons Corp. has secured a SR210 million ($56 million) contract from Diriyah Co., backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, to support infrastructure development in Phase 2 of the Kingdom’s heritage-led giga-project.
Under the five-year agreement, Parsons will oversee the design and delivery of neighborhood parks, open spaces, and more than 55 km of streetscape across Diriyah’s second development phase. The firm will also manage the design and construction supervision of streets, footpaths, civic buildings, and public realm facilities.
The Diriyah project, located on the northwestern outskirts of Riyadh, is one of five giga-projects backed by PIF under the Vision 2030 plan, as the Kingdom seeks to position itself as a global tourism hub by the end of the decade.
Diriyah is expected to contribute approximately SR70 billion annually to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product, create nearly 180,000 jobs, and become home to an estimated 100,000 residents.
Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Co., said: “We are delighted to be working with such a world-class firm as Parsons as we accelerate the development of Diriyah’s $63.2 billion development.”
He added: “This contract will play an important role in ensuring we achieve our goal of delivering a human-centric walkable city for approximately 100,000 residents, a contemporary working environment for tens of thousands and a place to welcome nearly 50 million visits a year in the future.”
Parsons first began working with the PIF in 2017 and has since contributed to several major Saudi projects, including NEOM’s The Line and Oxagon, Soudah Peaks, and Rua Al Madinah.
“It is an honor to work with Diriyah Co. on creating this iconic mixed-use destination that celebrates Saudi Arabia’s rich culture and heritage. This unique urban development program will use the latest technology and urban planning practices blended with the city’s traditional Najdi architecture design, which dates back 300 years,” said Pierre Santoni, president, infrastructure, Europe, Middle East and Africa at Parsons.
He added: “Our team is committed to leveraging our nearly seven decades of experience in the Kingdom, combined with our expertise in innovation, to advance Diriyah Company’s important program goals.”
In September, Diriyah Co. said it had awarded contracts worth SR18.75 billion in the first half of 2025 across 15 agreements, underscoring the rapid expansion of the project as it moves into large-scale implementation.
Diriyah, home to the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the historic birthplace of Saudi Arabia and the ancestral home of the Al Saud family.
Diriyah Co. is developing a mixed-use urban district about 15 minutes from central Riyadh, blending traditional Najdi architecture with modern design.
The first phase of the project will be fully walkable, offering spaces to live, work, shop, and dine in an environment that reflects the Kingdom’s heritage.
