Open space and cultural projects aim to transform Saudi Arabian capital

Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for Riyadh City is investing in four major projects worth US$23 billion that aim to transform and enhance the lives of the seven million residents of its capital Riyadh.

The ambitious program of urban planning and civil engineering will feature four major projects that set out to make the city one of the most liveable in the world.

Among the projects, King Salman Park will be one of the largest city parks in the world, covering an area of 13.4 kilometres², four times the area of Central Park in New York.

Sports Boulevard will be a state-of-the-art new activity and wellness destination in the heart of the city, providing a network of cycle routes and a 135 kilometre professional cycling track.

Green Riyadh is a citywide greening initiative which includes the planting of 7.5 million trees that will help lower the temperature of the city by 2°C and provide welcome shade, allowing residents to walk and exercise outside.

The fourth project, Riyadh Art will establish the city as ‘a gallery without walls’ through a world-class interactive public arts program, curating 1,000 pieces of art through exhibitions while also hosting an annual art festival.

These four transformative projects, managed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) (formally known as Riyadh Development Authority), complement the Saudi Vision 2030 ‘Quality of Life’ Program and are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, to create sustainable cities and communities, while driving urgent action against climate change.

In addition, the projects are expected to deliver huge social, economic and environmental benefits to the city with the construction of King Salman Park planned to generate around 50,000 jobs to completion, and then thousands more service jobs ongoing.

In tandem with the Saudi Arabian Government’s plan to encourage tourism the projects will project Riyadh as a destination of choice and give families will thrive with improved mobility, a better environment, and greater opportunities to experience art and culture.

Introducing the projects, an RDC spokesman advised “life is changing for the residents of Riyadh. In line with government reforms in education, healthcare and tourism, we are pushing forward with the diversification and development plans for the city.

The goals of Vision 2030 are coming to fruition and massive infrastructure projects such as these will have significant positive implications for our social tapestry and cultural wellbeing.”

For more information on Riyadh’s Four Wellbeing Projects, go to the following websites www.riyadhksp.sa/en/, www.riyadhalmasar.sa/en/, www.riyadhart.sa/en/ and www.riyadhgreen.sa/en/

Images: Artist's impressions of the Royal Arts Complex (top, courtesy of AETOSWire) and King Salman Park (middle and below).