Oct 18, 2024
The Saudi capital has been experiencing an optimal evolution that redefined the paradigm of Riyadh as the limits of the globe, rather than the city map. Adding to this effect, many Riyadh mega projects have been developed by the government or private companies investing in the massive potentiality looming in the horizon of the city. Indeed, major projects in Saudi Arabia are being constructed in Riyadh, being the gravitational centre of the Saudi Vision 2030 wonders implementation.
Tracing the Saudi mega projects in Riyadh, an observer can notice the various aims they are targeting; for example, some are establishing basis to enhance the infrastructure of the city, some to promote economic and social development, some for attracting more international tourism, while others aim at increasing property value in the surrounding area.
This blog will tackle these projects, and the strategic importance behind each of Riyadh mega projects.
The largest urban park in the world, and standing in the middle of the capital, King Salman Park is a huge project Saudi Arabia launched under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, on 19 March 2019. It promises to provide an array of sports, cultural, artistic, and recreational lists of activities for the residents and visitors of Riyadh, translating the agenda of Saudi Vision 2030. The park spans over 16 km2, covering 11.6 km2 of open green areas, and housing one million trees. Being one of the major projects in Saudi Arabia, the park boasts off various internal recreational projects, including:
Exceeding over 400,000 square meters in space, the complex covers an endless list of artistic platforms, such as the National Theatre with a seating capacity of 2500 slots, 5 museums of different sizes, an outdoor theatre with a capacity of 8000 audience, a complex with 3 cinema halls, 4 art academies and an educational centre for kids dedicated to flourishing children’s talents.
Mega projects in Saudi Arabia make sure to touch upon highlighting the local culture in the country; hence the park presents 7 different museums including: Aviation Museum, Astronomy and Space Museum, Science Museum, Museum of Plants, Virtual Reality Museum, Architecture Museum; plazas to host different events, covering total area of 40,000 square meters; in addition to artworks and landmarks.
Saudi mega projects are embodiments of Saudi Vision 2030; thus, the park also reflects the sports agenda planned in the vision. To impact the sports strategy in the Kingdom, the project offers a Royal Golf Course covering an area of 850,000 square meters, a sports complex over an area of 50,000 square meters, a virtual reality court, a sky diving centre, an equestrian centre, running and biking routes, a 100,000 square meter amusement park, a 140,000 square meter aquapark, a family amusement centre, a tower and a skybridge.
An 80,000 square meter space, it features an environmental, cultural, and educational centre, offering interactive shows to its visitors, as well as multi-purpose halls, a meeting room, a plant nursery, coffee shops and restaurants.
In addition to its touristic and recreational functions, this huge project Saudi Arabia developed in Riyadh contains residential compounds providing 12,000 housing units, besides 16 hotels with a total of 2300 rooms, and 500,000 square meters of retail spaces.
Counting as one of the major projects in Saudi Arabia, the park encompasses all the services of people’s everyday life, offering, as such, mosques, police, healthcare, educational and social facilities. Also, it gives various options for the daily activities practiced in the Saudi lifestyle, providing public libraries, 280,000 square meters of parking spaces, main and service roads, walkways and pathways.
Fulfilling another target of the Saudi Vision 2030,Riyadh green project ensures the increase of green spaces and availing them to all citizens around the capital. Constituting one of Riyadh mega projects, it aims at enhancing its natural setting to guarantee a sustainable future with pure air and water for this generation and the next ones.
The Riyadh Green Project invites Riyadh’s citizens to enjoy a healthy lifestyle by providing for them all the means to do so, as it encourages the plantation of 7.5 million trees across the capital, dividing them across:
· 3,330 neighbourhood gardens
· 43 parks
· 9,000 mosques
· 6,000 schools
· 2,000 car parking sites
· 1,670 public facilities
· 390 healthcare facilities
· 64 universities and collages
· 16,400 kms of streets and roads
· 1,100 km green belts along utilities lines (power stations, oil pipelines, etc.)
· 272 km valleys
· 175,000 sq. km of empty land
Developing the agricultural stance in the Kingdom, Riyadh Green Project is a huge project Saudi Arabia established in the capital, blending nature with technology in it, to inspire the eco-friendly life integration into all other mega projects in Saudi Arabia.
Envisioning the one spirit this planet lives through, the Saudi Vision 2030 believes that the welfare of humans derives its basis from the welfare of nature. Thus, housing around 72 native shade plant species compatible with Riyadh’s environment, this project guarantees the survival of this minute ecosystem of the Riyadh set of plants.
Major projects in Saudi Arabia set every step in advance; therefore, irrigation for the park is set through a network of treated water with daily capacity of 1,000,000 m3. As well, the source of seedlings and trees will be plant nurseries. The project also promises breakthrough afforestation regulations in public and private projects to ensure the implementation of the green initiative, inviting, as such voluntary engagement on all levels of the society.
The third of Riyadh Mega Projects, set to shape the final version of Saudi Vision 2030. The project divides the capital into 10-program main areas of residential neighbourhoods, gardens, parks, squares, metro/bus stations, bridges, city entrances and tourism destinations. Across these areas, 1000 works of art and landmarks, crafted by international artists, will be breathing inspiration among their surroundings.
A huge project Saudi Arabia is implementing in the heart of Riyadh to turn the capital into one vast artistic exhibition. A rich cultural program that will host two annual creative festivals, boosting Riyadh as an intellectual centre, in addition to the ten major programs which include:
A symbol of unhindered development, the epoch of evolution Riyadh is experiencing right now is embodied in this icon.
A sculpture park reimagining the integration of art, technology and environmental aspects of Riyadh’s life; an open-air museum.
Around 100 artworks spanning 5 locations, these masterpieces are echoing historical, authentic, and the natural spirit of the Riyadh wadis.
Bridges are not simply connecting roads anymore, they communicate the spirit of unifying the city under one light of ambition, as 3 artists will be illuminating 10 bridges around Riyadh.
A huge project Saudi Arabia has launched to encourage a healthy and eco-conscious lifestyle where the transportation system shifts to be walk-based, with the Metro helping for long-distance travel within the city. It will be covering 10 locations with over 70 elements of walkways.
6 metro lines, 80 stations, 3 bus terminals, and more than 1000 sheltered stations or stops will be adorned with artworks to integrate the spirit of creativity into Riyadh’s everyday life.
The core of Riyadh is set to be one whole work of art by Saudi Vision 2030, as 19 locations of bridges, overpasses, major roads, and rail intersections will be lighted with colourful illumination of creativity.
Establishing Riyadh as a cultural symbol, 10 iconic “gates of culture” will be welcoming you at the entrance of the city in 10 separate locations.
24 works of art will be installed in 15 locations as they aim to transform Riyadh landscape into an open-air gallery for Contemporary Public Art.
Kids’ playgrounds are redefined in Riyadh parks, as 3000 elements will be featured around 200 parks of all sizes around the capital to create more inspiring places for the children to have educational adventures.
4 pavilions and 4 Interactive artworks will be installed in 8 urban locations to provide a direct communication between art produces and recipients in Riyadh.
Coming from all over the world, a group of elite sculptors will be joining to carve permanent creativity in the heart of Riyadh, open to the public to refine the general cultural mood of the city.
When light and art are celebrated in an annual festival, that is when Riyadh inspires the world with stupendous manifestations of art exhibitions, accompanied by an itinerary of talks, tours, workshops, and events.
The fourth pillar of the Mega projects in Saudi Arabia capital, launched as a part of Saudi Vision 2030. Its main purpose is to inspire a healthy lifestyle among the citizens of Riyadh, who will constitute a major factor in upscaling Riyadh ranking on the international level.
From Hanifah valley in the West to Al Salai Valley in the East, 135 kms of greenery will be your companion along various pathways dedicated for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riding. There will also be designated areas for sporting activities, rising high up in the air the masterpiece of the Sport Tower.
4.2M sqm of greenery will span over 3.5 sq.km. of the Sports Boulevard, with 20 sq.km. of desert park that include event venues, show piazza, outdoor museums and movie theaters. As one of Saudi mega projects, investments will have their share, besides recreational and commercial activities, and together they will paint a canvas of rich cultural lifestyle in the city.
The main zones the Sports Boulevard will be covering are:
· Hanifah Valley Zone: 30 km from Al Olab Dam in historical Diyriah (north), to Al Madina Al Monawara Road (south).
· Arts District: 3 km, from King Khalid Road (west), providing cultural, art and recreational facilities.
· Urban Wadi Zone: 3.5 km and is located alongside Al Aysen valley, from Suwaid bin Harthah Road to King Fahad Road (west).
· Entertainment District: 4 km in between King Fahad Road (west) and Othman bin Affan Road, and a 40 km long viaduct for professional cyclists, in addition to an at-grade track for amateur cycling.
· Athletics District: 5 km from Othman bin Affan Road to Airport Road (east).
· Environmental Zone: 14 km from Airport Road to Al Janadriyah Road, along Al Sulai valley.
· Al Sulai Valley Zone: 53 km along Al Sulai Valley, from King Fahad Stadium to Binban Park.
· Red Sand Park: A 5 sq km zoo and a rural resort with different residential facilities.
Saudi mega projects are founded as a translation of the ambitions manifested in Saudi Vision 2030. They reflect the real visionary conception of the Kingdom of the future, and how it is planning for Riyadh to be among the top-ranking metropolis in the world, leading its way to the top of the pyramid in the near future.
To know more about Saudi mega projects and events, you are welcome to visit the experts’ blogs section on our website.
There are 4 major Projects in Saudi Arabia that are being constructed on the way of implementing the Saudi Vision 2030, and they are: King Salman Park Project, Riyadh Green Project, Riyadh Art Project, and Sports Track Project.
Being one of Riyadh Mega Projects, the park boasts off various internal recreational projects, including: The Royal Arts Complex, cultural facilities, sports and entertainment facilities, public facilities and services, in addition to residential and hotel facilities.
Of course, there is Riyadh Green Project which is a huge project Saudi Arabia has launched to encourage the plantation of 7.5 million trees across the capital, providing as such a healthy lifestyle.
Yes, Riyadh mega projects provide investment spaces for the ambitious investors from all around the world.
Written by: Sarah Chaher
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