Here’s everything you wanted to know about Saudi Arabia's 'wellbeing' mega projects

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman launched four wellbeing projects, worth SAR 86 billion ($23 billion), in Riyadh on Monday, a statement from Riyadh Development Authority (ADA) said.

The four wellbeing projects - King Salman Park, Sports Boulevard, Green Riyadh, and Riyadh Art – will complement the Saudi Vision 2030’s “Quality of Life” Program and are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to create sustainable cities and communities, while driving urgent action against climate change.

The four projects will offer opportunities worth SAR 56.2 billion for the private sector to invest in the residential, commercial, and recreational and wellness areas, the statement further added.

In addition to providing tens of thousands of new jobs, the projects will also contribute to an integrated approach to wellness, health, sports, culture and the arts, underpinned by a commitment to environmental sustainability.

Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2019.

Project details:

1) King Salman Park - With its 13.4 square kilometers, it will be the largest city park in the world. Besides residences and hotels, it will also feature a Royal Arts Complex, theaters, museums, cinemas, sports venues, water features, restaurants and an 18-hole Royal Golf Course. The park will also boast several landmark assets, including the Riyadh Fountains and a Vertical Garden. 

The park will also boast several landmark assets, including the Riyadh Fountains and a Vertical Garden.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/bSWqEsREng

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) March 19, 2019

2) Green Riyadh - One of the world’s largest urban greening projects, it will increase the green cover in the Saudi capital with the planting of 7.5 million trees. This will help increase the city’s green cover from 1.5 percent of the total area to 9.1 percent, or approximately 541 square kilometers, by 2030. Green Riyadh will help reduce average ambient temperature by 2 degrees Celsius, and will use more than 1 million cubic meters of treated sewage affluent daily for irrigation, for the sustainability of water resources in the city.

One of the world’s largest urban greening projects, Green Riyadh (https://t.co/8rVo8MKeuB) will increase the green cover in the Saudi capital with the planting of 7.5 million trees. #SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/aF2ltoTylQ

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) March 19, 2019

3) Sports Boulevard - A new health and wellness destination in the city, it will feature a 135 kilometer-long professional cycling track covering the city and the surrounding valleys. Adding 3.5 million square meters of new open space across the city, this project will also feature a sports pavilion, riding stables and athletics tracks, in fact accommodating a wide variety of sports activities. 

An iconic new health and wellness destination in Riyadh, Sports Boulevard (https://t.co/67J4J1YS2n) will feature a 135 kilometer-long professional cycling track covering Riyadh and the surrounding valleys.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/M9GlPhY5lv

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) March 19, 2019

4) Riyadh Art – It will be the world's single largest government investment in public art and will establish the city as “a gallery without walls” through an interactive public arts program. With 1,000 art pieces curated through ten separate arts programs and an annual arts festival, the project will feature large-scale art works that will both fascinate and engage artists and art lovers from across the world.

Riyadh Art (https://t.co/xD8QpawR3I) is the world's single largest government investment in public art and will establish the city as “a gallery without walls” through a world-class interactive public arts program.#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/yhF5FZvSTg

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) March 19, 2019

Video courtesy of AETOSWire