HRH Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), has named Gerard Jerry Inzerillo as CEO of the authority, which will spearhead a transformative initiative to restore the historic birthplace of the Saudi state.

Inzerillo, a highly accomplished tourism visionary and former CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, was selected to oversee the restoration of Diriyah and to develop a number of major new historical and tourism assets including museums, academic institutions and “edutainment” facilities, as well as resorts, restaurants, wellness facilities and high-end retail in a 7.1 million-sq-m development on the west side of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s booming capital city. The initiative is a key deliverable in the Crown Prince’s 2030 Vision to modernise the Saudi state, engage Saudi citizens, and welcome guests from all over the world.

“I am deeply honoured to have the privilege to contribute to HRH’s dynamic vision for the nation,” said Inzerillo. “This is truly an inspired time in this extraordinary country. I am particularly grateful to lead a world-class team in the development of this historic site, which will give the world its truest window into the soul and spirit of this land, its welcoming people and their rich history. Diriyah will be one of the great gatherings places in the world.”

Diriyah, a Unesco registered site, holds a historical depth of more than 590 years. As the birthplace of the first, second, and current Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is the root of the Saudi nation.

Much of the original site, built in adobe brick in the traditional architecture of the greater Najd region, will be authentically restored with new tourism attractions and facilities. - TradeArabia News Service