King Salman Park

King Salman Park is a major urban project in the heart of the city of Riyadh, extending over more than 16 square kilometres, and is considered the largest city park in the world. The project offers activities, arts and cultural experiences, and brings together destinations for sport, recreation and innovation. [2] The project was launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz on 12 Rajab 1440 AH, corresponding to 19 March 2019, within the Four Major Riyadh Projects, and it is overseen by the King Salman Park Foundation. [1]

On 12 Rajab 1440 AH, corresponding to 19 March 2019, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz launched four major projects: King Salman Park, Green Riyadh, the Riyadh Sports Track and Riyadh Art. The Major Projects Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, oversees them. [1] The project falls within the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to raise the quality of life in the capital and increase the share of green space per person. [2]

The park occupies the heart of the city of Riyadh in a central location connected to the main roads, and its area extends over more than 16 square kilometres, of which more than 11 square kilometres are open and green spaces. [2][3] The project includes a garden in the Islamic style, vertical gardens, a maze garden, and a sanctuary for birds and butterflies. [2]

The project also includes a circular pedestrian track 7.2 kilometres long and about one million trees covering all parts of the park, and it is connected to the main roads by five train stations and ten bus stations. [2][4]

The Board of Directors of the King Salman Park Foundation, chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announced the start of construction work on the Royal Arts Complex in the city of Riyadh on 24 Shawwal 1443 AH, corresponding to 25 May 2022, over an area of more than 500,000 square metres. [3]

The complex comprises the Museum of World Cultures, the National Theatre with a capacity of 2,300 seats, and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, which includes three academies: the Academy of Traditional Visual Arts, the Academy of Cultural Heritage and Restoration, and the Academy of Performing Arts, in addition to a hall for sculpture, two theatres, three cinema halls, a hall seating 600, and a library specialising in culture and the arts. [4]

Work began on the park's Visitors' Centre after its construction contract was awarded to a national company, on a total area of 90,000 square metres, and it was designed by the architect David Adjaye, blending the boundaries of the centre's interior spaces with the park's outdoor landscapes. [5] The centre is one of the iconic landmarks of King Salman Park, and from its terrace visitors look out over the construction work within the project. [11]

Bridges and tunnels were built within the project to ease traffic movement in the city of Riyadh and strengthen the interconnection of its components, most notably the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road tunnel, which cuts through the park from north to south over a length of 2,430 metres, making it one of the longest tunnels in the Middle East; vehicles were allowed to use it from Thursday 29 February 2024. [7] An agreement was also announced with the Saudi Electricity Company to build five power stations with a total capacity of 580 megawatts to supply the park with the necessary energy, along with the award of contracts worth 3.847 billion riyals to a group of Saudi national companies to carry out parts of the project, including site preparation and the construction of tunnels, bridges and infrastructure works. [5]

The park's design takes sustainability and environmental protection into account, and works to increase vegetation cover in the area and raise the share of green space per person. [2] The park adopts three-dimensional printing technology in building the service units spread throughout it, such as public facilities, kiosks and rest areas, which helps accelerate the pace of delivery while maintaining construction quality. [8]

The Visitors' Nursery, with an area of 7,800 square metres, provides close to 82,000 and 500 trees and shrubs of local species adapted to the environment, and the sub-gardens form an extension of the central forest within the park and natural gateways linking its surroundings. [8]

The King Salman Park Foundation announced the launch of the King Salman Park Real Estate Development Fund with a capital of 4 billion riyals, to develop the first real estate investment plot within the park's boundaries, under a model of cooperation between the public and private sectors in which the private sector manages and fully finances the fund. [6] The main developer is King Salman Park Real Estate Investment and Development Company, and Saudi Fransi Capital manages the fund. [6]

The Board of Directors of the King Salman Park Foundation, chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, issued a decision appointing George Tanasijevich as the Foundation's Chief Executive Officer on 24 Jumada al-Ula 1444 AH, corresponding to 18 December 2022; he has more than 20 years of experience in real estate development, the development of recreational facilities and financial management. [9] On 30 Rabi al-Thani 1448 AH, corresponding to 11 October 2026, the Foundation announced the appointment of Dale Chadwick as its Chief Executive Officer; he has more than 30 years of international experience in construction, development and project management, which strengthens business continuity and the project's progress towards its next stage of development, delivery and operational readiness. [10]

The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, visited the King Salman Park project on 5 Sha'ban 1446 AH, corresponding to 4 February 2025, and began his tour at the Visitors' Centre, where he watched a visual presentation recounting the details of the project and the stages currently being implemented. [11]

Q: What is King Salman Park? A: A major urban project in the heart of the city of Riyadh, extending over more than 16 square kilometres, and considered the largest city park in the world, launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz in 2019. [1][2]

Q: When was the project launched and who oversees it? A: It was launched on 12 Rajab 1440 AH, corresponding to 19 March 2019, within the Four Major Riyadh Projects, and it is overseen by the King Salman Park Foundation, whose Board of Directors is chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. [1][3]

Q: What is the park's area and the extent of its green spaces? A: The area extends over more than 16 square kilometres, of which more than 11 square kilometres are open and green spaces, with a circular pedestrian track 7.2 kilometres long and about one million trees. [2][4]

Q: What are the project's most prominent facilities? A: The Royal Arts Complex, the Visitors' Centre, the circular track and the forest, in addition to a garden in the Islamic style, vertical gardens, a maze garden and a sanctuary for birds and butterflies. [2][3]

Q: How long is the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road tunnel in the project? A: 2,430 metres, which makes the tunnel one of the longest in the Middle East; vehicles were allowed to use it from 29 February 2024. [7]

The King Salman Park project brings together extensive green spaces, cultural and recreational facilities and advanced infrastructure, making it a major urban destination in the capital and an extension of the goals of raising the quality of life. [2][4] Among the related topics on the platform are Riyadh, Saudi Vision 2030, Qiddiya, Riyadh Season, the Saudi National Museum and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.