Diriyah explores potential for unique Startbucks store
Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Company officials have met with executives from Alshaya Group and Starbucks to explore a potential retail partnership to create a unique experience in Diriyah featuring a flagship Starbucks store.
Diriyah Company's Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo met with Alshaya Group Executive Chairman Mohammed Alshaya; CEO John Hadden; and Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol in this regard.
Spanning 14 sq km, Diriyah is a mixed-use development on the outskirts of Riyadh, being transformed into a world-class cultural and lifestyle destination. Anchored by the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ancestral home of House Al Saud, Diriyah seamlessly blends 300 years of historic authenticity with modern design to create a unique visitor experience.
The Diriyah masterplan includes 566,000 sq m of lifestyle, retail and F&B offerings, bringing together more than 1,000 retail outlets and dining concepts. At the heart of this offering is Diriyah Square, a premier lifestyle and retail precinct with more than 186,000 sq m of leasable space featuring more than 400 iconic retail brands and dining outlets.
Another key attraction, Bujairi Terrace, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, has quickly become a premier dining and lifestyle hub. Since its opening in 2022, it has welcomed over 3 million visitors, offering a carefully curated selection of local, regional and international restaurants and boutique retail experiences.
Inzerillo said: 'We are excited about the potential of welcoming one of the world's most iconic brands to The City of Earth. This meeting marks an important step in our drive to partner with global brands, further positioning Diriyah as one of the world's greatest gathering places. We look forward to advancing our discussions with Starbucks and Alshaya Group to bring a unique retail experience to our visitors.'
Alshaya said: 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an important country for Alshaya Group, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss bringing our most iconic brand to such a historically important site as Diriyah. With a flagship Starbucks store for the Middle East, our intention symbolizes our links to Saudi Arabia and support of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.'
Niccol said: 'Together with our long-standing partner, Alshaya Group, we are exploring opening a one-of-a-kind flagship Starbucks in Diriyah. We want to create a unique destination that blends the best of local culture with the great coffee and human connection we are known for around the world. It is impressive to see the work Diriyah Company is doing to build a world class destination.'
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