After an international competition in 1981, the Omrania team, in association with Frei Otto and Buro Happold were awarded the design and site supervision of what was then called the Diplomatic Club. The Tuwaiq Palace is a response to the unique opportunities presented by the site, a design worthy of the majestic promontory site overlooking the sweeping Wadi Hanifah.

The Tuwaiq Palace was originally designed as a club for the Diplomatic Community contains 24,000 msq. of recreational, social, dining, banqueting, conference and accommodation functions. Such diverse functions as a tenpin bowling alley, crèche, billiards, library, secretariats and hotel rooms are combined with the usual club facilities of swimming, tennis, squash, sauna, exercise, lounges, social rooms and formal and informal dining. All technical, mechanical and staff-related functions to support such a facility are included within the Palace.

This remarkable project initiated Nick Sweet’s career in 1981, developing the design for the landscape setting of the buildings, using native species and the Riyadh stone occurring on the site.