When Bab Samhan’s General Manager Fabrice Ducry (pictured above) speaks about his hotel, he refers to it as “emotionally connected” and “one of the most unique properties” he has worked with… observations that reflect the very special brief behind the very first hotel to open within the Diriyah district.
We met with Ducry at ILTM Cannes, where he explained the intentions behind the Bab Samhan project — the cultural references, the historical groundwork, the architectural fidelity — and it became clear that the property is more than a new hospitality offering: it is designed as a continuation of the district’s restored heritage, embedded directly into the narrative of Diriyah’s past.
The birthplace of the Kingdom
Many travellers still ask: where exactly is Diriyah? Ducry smiles at the question. He has heard it countless times. “A lot of people wonder where Diriyah is,” he says. “Firstly… we are basically adjacent to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.”
But proximity alone does not capture its importance. Diriyah is nothing less than “the very first Saudi state… the birthplace of the Kingdom,” he explains — the land “where the Saudis decided to create the Kingdom,” a place that carries profound emotional resonance for Saudis everywhere.
One of his Saudi colleagues once offered a comparison he found particularly elegant: “If you think about Rome and the Vatican, this is basically how close Diriyah is to Riyadh.”
Beyond its symbolism, Diriyah is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site At-Turaif, the ancestral seat of the House of Saud. With cafés, cultural venues and a profoundly Najdi aesthetic shaping the district’s rebirth, Diriyah is now also one of the most atmospheric and culturally expressive places in the Kingdom. Diriyah is set to expand dramatically — the master-plan envisages some 40 luxury hotels over the coming years, with major global brands such as Four Seasons and Six Senses already committed. The fact that Bab Samhan is the first also puts it in a very special place.
A hotel born from restored heritage
Bab Samhan’s story began, unexpectedly, with a Ministry of Culture initiative to restore old Najdi houses. “They wanted to renovate some mud houses near the UNESCO complex,” Ducry recounts, adding, “The site is at an easy walking distance.”
At first, these restorations had no specific purpose. Then a simple but transformative idea emerged. “The Ministry of Tourism said, ‘Why don’t you make a heritage hotel?’ And one thing led to the other — this is where we actually have Bab Samhan.”
What makes this hotel particularly meaningful is its integration into the historic Samhan district. Some of the structures within the district are genuinely original — homes that stood for centuries and have now been painstakingly restored. Others, however, no longer existed in physical form and had to be rebuilt in order to recreate the historic district faithfully. This reconstruction was not creative interpretation; it was a process grounded in science and archaeology. Using infrared imaging to locate the original foundations and wall lines, teams were able to reproduce the Samhan district as it existed 300 years ago — ensuring historical integrity not just around the hotel, but across the entire cultural environment in which it sits.
As a result, Bab Samhan exists within a district that feels organically ancient yet carefully revived. The hotel itself inherits that same sense of authenticity. “In a way, I don’t have one straight wall,” Ducry laughs. “Every single room, every single suite has a different configuration.”
Even though the property opened only months ago, he adds, “It already has a lot of story behind it. It already has a soul.”
Ensuring authenticity at every touchpoint
Authenticity in Bab Samhan is not limited to architecture. The Ministry of Culture remains closely involved, through a dedicated foundation department that ensures the feeling of Diriyah is preserved in every moment of the guest journey.
“They follow us,” Ducry explains, “to ensure that the various touchpoints… whether from flavour, fragrance, music… are authentic.”
From the moment guests arrive, the cultural immersion is immediate and intentional. Instead of the classic Saudi pairing of coffee and dates, visitors are welcomed with a local historical speciality. “In Diriyah, 300 years ago, they had a specific cookie called khadījah,” he says. “So we serve you khadījah instead of the traditional dates.”
Food plays a central role in this storytelling. The hotel’s Saudi chef, he says, creates dishes rooted in “grandmother recipes… but served in a very unique way.” The spa, the music, the aromas — everything is curated to bring the guest closer to an authentic understanding of central Arabian culture.
The goal, Ducry says, is simple: “By the time they walk out, they will really feel they have understood what the Saudi culture is about.”
A team shaped by the people of Diriyah
For a Frenchman managing a deeply Saudi hotel, authenticity had to extend to the people delivering the experience. And Ducry embraced this wholeheartedly.
“We’ve integrated a large number of Saudi nationals into the hotel,” he explains, noting that Bab Samhan is already “almost reaching a 50% mix of expatriates and Saudi nationals.”
Tourism is still a new sector for many young Saudis, but the passion is growing rapidly. Before opening, the hotel selected 40 young people from Diriyah itself — a powerful gesture of community integration.
“What better,” he asks, “than to have actual Saudi nationals from Diriyah showcasing their new birthplace?”
These recruits were sent to a hospitality school for three months, then trained on-site. And while technical skills could be taught, one essential skill was already deeply ingrained: “The art of welcoming — we don’t have to teach them. A lot of people could take some lessons from Saudis.”
What guests feel when they arrive
When asked how he would describe the essence of the hotel to a first-time guest, Ducry does not hesitate: “A true cultural immersion.”
Visitors — Saudi and international alike — are responding with enthusiasm. He describes reactions as “an overwhelming feeling… they’re so thrilled.”
For Saudis, the hotel often evokes powerful nostalgia. “When you have Saudi nationals who come and experience the venue and say, ‘Oh wow, this is exactly how my grandmother… or my uncle lived,’ you feel you have touched authenticity.”
International guests are equally impressed. “They’re all amazed to see how this level of service could be achieved within such a short amount of time, and how graceful it is.”
He agrees that Bab Samhan is a “perfect example of immersive tourism”.
A hotel at the crossroads of past and present
Location is essential to Bab Samhan’s power. “One side, you have the UNESCO site,” Ducry says. “You walk out of the hotel, you go left, and you will be immersed in the Samhan district where all the locals go to have their coffees and teas.”
Few luxury hotels in the world sit at such a meaningful crossroads — one direction leading into centuries-old palaces, the other into thriving modern life infused with tradition.
As our conversation concludes, Ducry reflects on Bab Samhan’s role not only in Saudi tourism, but in shaping how Saudis and international visitors reconnect with heritage.
With a smile, he offers a closing invitation: “You should come and see us next time… hopefully our new ambassador.”
Accommodation: rooms, suites and living heritage
Bab Samhan offers 134 rooms and suites in total, including 23 suites, making it one of the most substantial heritage-hospitality launches in Diriyah to date.
Rooms come in a variety of types. Standard guest rooms — including King rooms and Twin rooms — begin at around 34–35 m², offering two single beds or a king bed, depending on configuration. For guests seeking more space or a more elevated experience, the hotel offers suites: for example, a one-bedroom suite typically measures about 45 m², while two-bedroom suites reach around 84 m² — comfortably accommodating larger parties or families.
Each room and suite is crafted with traditional Najdi design sensibilities: sand-toned walls, handcrafted textiles, ornamental lanterns, and carefully selected local artefacts. At the same time, modern amenities — premium bedding, climate control, modern bathrooms and in-room comforts — ensure guests enjoy contemporary comfort within a historic-inspired shell.
Bab Samhan is truly a testament to what Saudi Arabia can achieve when luxury hospitality becomes a vehicle for cultural storytelling. In Diriyah, the past is a thing to be lived, tasted, heard and felt.
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