10 Projects Transforming Saudi Cities (that you haven’t heard of yet)

If you think of the Gulf and picture skyscrapers, you’re only half right, because Saudi is much more than that. From record-breaking city parks to open-air art galleries, Saudi Arabia is showing what can be achieved when cities put people first.  

We’ve pulled together ten projects that showcase the Kingdom of Transformation as one of green spaces, culture, creativity, and new tech and we haven’t even included the famous ones you already know about…

1. Transforming the Kingdom’s Red Sea gateway 
   
   Let’s start in Jeddah, where traders, pilgrims, and visitors have been welcomed to Saudi for millennia. The Jeddah Waterfront project is transforming 180 square kilometers (111 square miles) of this historic gateway city into a buzzing network of green, pedestrianized public spaces. These link playgrounds, markets and shops, restaurants and cafes, residential and hospitality areas, and sports and entertainment facilities – including the famous open-air Jeddah Sculpture Museum where vibrant, eye-catching modern forms by local and international artists line the corniche and tell the city’s history.

   

2. The spice trade rides again with Jeddah’s culinary caravansOnce upon a time, aspiring chefs and entrée-preneurs were tied to conventional restaurants in one location. Jeddah super-charged a new trend in the Kingdom by creating opportunities for culinary creators and gastronauts alike with simple food van registration, financial support, and trading sites, creating a mobile café culture that’s transforming the city.

   

3. Creating the world’s largest city park…The 16 square kilometer (over 6 square miles) King Salman Park is set to be the world’s largest urban park, seven times larger than London’s Hyde Park and five times larger than New York’s Central Park. Lush natural features, complemented by galleries, museums, and educational pavilions, will improve air quality and both mental and physical health. That’s a triple win, we think.

   

4. A historic city of the futureThe Diriyah Gate Project is responsibly renovating Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO-listed cultural capital while integrating new wonders, including a stunning opera house, brought to life using traditional mud-brick in the regional Najdi architectural style. The result will be a destination for everyone, where past meets future.

   

5. A light in the parkIt’s not just Riyadh and Jeddah, Najran in the Kingdom’s south is driving its own centerpiece urban transformation – a sparkling light park that is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. The King Fahd Light Park brings people together to relax in a luminous blend of nature and public art in a region that is one of the best kept secrets in the Kingdom of Light.

   

6. Galleries without wallsPublic art has been around so long in Saudi, it’s actually prehistoric! Now, a range of projects across the Kingdom are turning cities into studios. For example, Ha’il in the Kingdom’s central region (already rolling in rock art) has launched its Beautiful Ha’il Initiative with local artists’ drawings, calligraphy, and sculptures bringing the region’s artistic legacy into the 21st century. Not to be outdone, Jazan on Saudi’s south-western Red Sea coast, has launched a Cultural Street of sculptures, artists’ booths, and more to inspire creators and audiences. And back in the capital, the Riyadh Art project brings together more than 1,000 public art installations and two annual festivals.

   

7. A new way of living for SaudiIs urban transformation top-down or bottom-up? Why not both? ROSHN is the Kingdom’s leader in modern-era real estate development, giving the 15-minute city concept a distinctly Saudi flavor. So far, ROSHN has launched seven beautiful new communities with more to come. For us, the most exciting and ambitious is MARAFY, in Jeddah, where the Kingdom’s first 11km (6.5 mile) man-made canal will link the community with the Red Sea and put waterfront living on the doorsteps of residents and visitors

   

8. Project PreparationRemember how we said Saudi cities are built to put people first? This goes beyond design – it’s about how they’re managed and maintained too. For example, Saudi’s Balady (my town) app lets residents give their feedback and get results on everything from healthcare to district maintenance while also enabling fast-track access to new commercial licenses.
9. Cities of people in the Kingdom of CommunityOf course, urban transformation isn’t just about the buildings, it’s also about who gets to live in them. There are a number of programs across the Kingdom to increase access to quality housing. The Bunyan Foundation is just one. Founded by Saudi women to ensure families in need can find quality housing, the Bunyan Foundation offers financial support, home renovation and education programs too, making sure that home ownership isn’t just about new owners of new builds – it’s about communities with legacies too.
10. One more, while you’re still here…Did you know that Saudi Arabia is building the world’s tallest building? At 2km (over a mile) tall, the Rise Tower will more than double the height of the current record holder. It’s some way off, but with new architects and funding recently announced, this dream spire looks set to become reality.

    

Some of these projects are already a reality and others will be soon. Either way, this is just a taster and there’s so much more to be discovered. So, get ready to be inspired and discover a new take on urban life in Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Transformation.