Samhan Neighborhood

Samhan Neighborhood is a historical mudbrick district located within the landmarks of Diriyah historical area, the capital of the First Saudi State. The neighborhood lies south of the Ghasiba District, on a triangular plateau overlooking Wadi Hanifah where it meets the villages of Omran tributary. It comprises thirty-six heritage buildings, ranging from one to two stories in height.

The founder of the First Saudi State, Imam Mohammed Bin Saud, established al-Turufiyyah District within Samhan and moved there after Ghasiba was the center of governance.

Samhan Neighborhood overlooks al-Qusayrin, al-Maraih, and at-Turaif Districts. This location held strategic importance as one of the fortified sites during the siege of Diriyah by Ibrahim Pasha's campaign in 1818. Imam Abdullah Bin Saud selected Samhan as his defensive headquarters, making it one of the last locations to surrender.

In 2013, a Spanish company contracted by the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (at the time) began a restoration and rehabilitation project for Samhan Neighborhood in historic Diriyah. The plan aimed to transform it into a heritage museum. Phase one of the project included conducting structural and soil studies, environmental analyses, the removal of debris and foundation exposure, conducting historical research and surveying of the current state, and examining the surrounding area of the site and its current and future impacts.

The study included comprehensive architectural designs to convert the neighborhood into a heritage hotel. This encompassed designs, surveys, historical research to trace the neighborhood's urban development over different historical eras, and studies on the old buildings of the neighborhood. The project also focused on restoring existing buildings in the neighborhood with their architectural elements, preserving features and character reflecting the old lifestyle of historic Diriyah, and rebuilding damaged structures using the original materials used in their original construction.

The rehabilitation of Samhan Neighborhood involved transforming it into a heritage hotel through an operational plan to utilize the site economically, socially, culturally, and touristically. The goal was to revive the location, foster positive interaction between the local environment and its traditional products and handicrafts, and align with the site's heritage tourism plan. This effort was part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Cultural Heritage Care.

The Saudi Heritage Hospitality Company 'Nuzul' undertook the construction of the Samhan Heritage Hotel in Samhan Neighborhood. King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud laid the foundation stone for the project on April 9, 2015, during the inauguration of al-Bujairi District in historic Diriyah.

The rehabilitation project of Samhan Neighborhood preserved all existing buildings in the area along with their architectural elements. This was achieved by treating and restoring their historical characteristics, reflecting the traditional lifestyle of old Diriyah. The damaged structures were rebuilt and restructured using the original materials from their first establishment.

As part of 'Bashayer Diriyah 2023' event held in December 2023, Bab Samhan Hotel was inaugurated as one of the forty-one hotels in Diriyah. It began welcoming guests in 2024. The hotel offers a rich Najdi heritage experience that blends traditional design with high-quality services and a luxury lifestyle. The hotel boasts a prime location, surrounded by Wadi Hanifa and al-Bujairi Terrace, situated at a short distance from the historic at-Turaif District, which is listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, and near to Diriyah Traditional Arts Gallery.

Bab Samhan Hotel includes 106 rooms and twenty-eight suites, in addition to a royal suite. The rooms and suites are designed with sizes ranging from thirty-five m² to 413 m². The hotel also features a heritage-designed main hall, meeting rooms, a spa with an indoor pool, a gym, and various restaurants.