King Salman Park: Redefining Urban Living in Riyadh
King Salman Park is shaping the future of urban living, blending the vibrancy of city life with the tranquility of nature.
When the park’s residents and workers step out of their apartments or offices, they are immersed in 11 square kilometers of a newly planted green oasis containing 14 million shrubs and perennials. They can easily access restaurants, shopping and entertainment facilities via lofty tree-lined walkways that overlook spectacular wadis (valleys) and waterfalls.
King Salman Park will rank alongside Central Park in New York and Beijing’s Summer Palace as one of the world’s largest and greatest city parks. Yet unlike those historic green spaces, it is being developed using 15-minute city principles that support sustainable, convenient and active living. Served by five metro stations, it is just 25 minutes from King Khalid International Airport.
Investors in the loop
The King Salman Park Foundation, which oversees the park and is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has designed the 16.7 square kilometer site as a rich mix of interlinked residential, office, hospitality, retail and entertainment assets.
By becoming a working prototype of the 15-minute city model, the park aims to set new global standards for sustainable urban development. Its pedestrian-friendly walkway, the Loop, extends for 7.2 kilometers and ensures that residents, workers and visitors have convenient connectivity, with ready access to their everyday retail needs, leisure facilities and entertainment venues.
King Salman Park will be home to 96,000 people in 27,000 residential units, and will provide office space for 30,000 workers. Its 150 cultural attractions, including the Royal Arts Complex and several museums, mean it will be a destination for an anticipated 50 million visitors a year.
Investors understand the significance of the project. The foundation already has 70% of its construction packages under contract. It has finalized commercial agreements on a major mixed-use opportunity with a private-sector developer, and is close to concluding other contract discussions. But it is still actively onboarding new partners to facilitate international participation and long-term returns through various transaction models, including joint ventures and fund-based arrangements. One such partner is French hospitality group Accor, which is bringing its lifestyle hotel brand TRIBE to the park with a 250-room hotel and a collection of 150 serviced apartments.
Retail zones are spread across King Salman Park, featuring a curated blend of global flagship brands, regional innovators and emerging local labels. Parsons Corporation, a US technology infrastructure company, has been contracted to provide project management office (PMO) services for the park to help deliver the project. With 13,000 workers on site, momentum is building.
King Salman Park is being positioned as “Riyadh’s Kitchen,” a new culinary hub offering food and beverage experiences across all price points and cuisines. Its recreation portfolio extends to cricket, volleyball, soccer, handball, softball, rollerblading and water-based activities. Runners and cyclists can traverse the park via a network of shaded trails, and horse riders have their own paths and a bespoke equestrian center. Golfers have a championship 18-hole course created by a globally recognized designer.
Critically, for the future of the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh’s new park doubles the city’s green space per capita, thus mitigating heat and improving air quality. In the arid environment, water conservation is being prioritized through advanced smart irrigation and the use of recycled city water to maximize efficiency.
A breath of fresh air in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s $1.1 trillion economy is among the top 20 in the world and is the largest in the Middle East. With its extensive green space, cultural significance, strategic infrastructure and diverse investment platform, King Salman Park is a unique destination within the region. It has been designed as a place to live, visit and work, but also as a base where companies and individuals can grow and innovate. For global developers and investors seeking transformative opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, King Salman Park is open for business.
