It is hard to overstate the historical significance of Diriyah, a village strategically located within the Wadi Hanifa, and capital of the first Saudi state. Its establishment in 1744 was achieved through a pact initiated between the political leader Muhammed bin Saud and the religious leader Muhammed ibn Abdel Wahhab, embodying the twin pillars of ruling family and religious revivalism that underpinned the modern Saudi state. Saudi Arabia is currently undertaking a multifaceted development program, Saudi Vision 2030, whose agenda encompasses not only economic diversification but also social transformation and national ambition. Diriya, located on the outskirts of Riyadh, stands at the nexus of many of Vision 2030 goals – developing tourism, increasing entertainment, and strengthening national identity. In this paper I assess the current development plans for Diriyah, comparing them with earlier ones initiated from 1984. Using primary sources – development presentations, advertising brochures - as well as on site visits and interviews, I examine both the narrative discourse and core elements of this project. I argue that the new plans for Diriyah reflect an important shift, from a traditional heritage site to one more tied to transnational capital through real estate ventures, international sport, and global entertainment. Moreover and significantly, the new plans diminish the historical importance of Muhammed ibn Abdel Wahhab. Both changes reflect the new nationalism in Saudi Arabia, which seeks to mobilize the youthful population through economic endeavors that directly tie them to the Al Saud dynasty and state, while diminishing the role of the religious establishment in public life. This paper stands at the nexus of cultural studies, transnational capital, and nationalism. It will contribute to our understanding of how festivals and heritage projects inform political identity (Erskine-Loftus et al, 2005; Exell and Rico,2014) with attention to how the global reconfiguration of cultural investment and wealth is challenging traditional center-periphery power narratives (Dresch et al, 2005; Elsheshtawy, 2011).