Development of Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Park

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced the beginning of a three-year project to develop King Abdulaziz Park in the nation’s capital. This project follows the conclusion of a design competition. The winning design, selected from several presented by four international companies, will encompass approximately 4.3 million square meters.

The park will consist of six distinct green spaces, with the central Botanic Garden being the most prominent, covering 200,000 square meters and featuring over 200 species of local plants. The project spanning 4.3 million square meters, is set to take three years to complete. The green space will feature 24 children’s areas, 2m trees

As part of the Green Riyadh initiative, the new park will be constructed in the northern part of the city, in close proximity to King Khalid International Airport, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, and a train station. The design of the park incorporates the Munsiyah Tributary, an 11 km branch of the Al-Sulai valley, and sustainable commercial buildings. It also features a 2 km pathway overlooking the buildings.

 Over 2 million trees and shrubs will provide shade throughout the park, with each being served by an irrigation system that uses recycled water. In addition to terraces, squares, open theaters for events and festivals, and restaurants, there will be 24 children’s areas and 30 sports zones. Khaled Al-Bakr, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, emphasized the importance of parks and green spaces for a good quality of life for city residents, citing major park projects such as King Abdulaziz Park, King Salman Park, and King Abdullah International Parks in Riyadh.

He noted that these parks enhance the city’s humanization and provide vast spaces for residents and visitors, enabling sports activities, and offering recreational places while providing environmental and climatic benefits. The government-supported parks development project is playing a crucial role in transforming the city and realizing the objectives of the Green Riyadh and Vision 2030 initiatives.

According to sources, there are ongoing efforts to create additional green spaces such as Al-Urubah, Al Munsiyah, Al Qadisiyah, and Al-Rimmal parks. In addition, extensive planting is taking place along major roads like King Salman Road and King Khalid Road. Furthermore, a 1,350 km irrigation network has been established to support the maintenance of the new parks.

Green Riyadh

Green Riyadh is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the capital city of Saudi Arabia into a lush, green paradise. Launched in 2019 by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the project has set out to elevate Riyadh into one of the top 100 most livable cities in the world. Through the strategic planting of 7.5 million trees across the city by 2030, Green Riyadh seeks to enhance livability, air quality, and the overall well-being of the city’s residents. Green Riyadh’s efforts include planting trees in neighborhood gardens, parks, mosques, schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and alongside streets and roads.

This initiative is not only aimed at improving the urban landscape but also at reducing power consumption, enhancing air quality, and decreasing temperatures. As a result, residents are anticipated to enjoy a happier, healthier, and more sustainable living environment. Furthermore, the project is expected to yield substantial returns on investment by 2030 through savings in healthcare costs, an increase in real estate value, and the utilization of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes.

The objectives of Green Riyadh are the following:

 Increase green space per capita 16x, from 1.7 to 28 m²

Increase total green coverage in Riyadh from 1.5% to 9%

Improve air quality by reducing CO2 by 3-6%

Increase Riyadh’s oxygen rates & air humidity

Reduce temperatures in Riyadh by 1.5° to 2° C

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