Going Green: Reinventing Saudi Cities

Saudi Arabia’s cities are going through a major glow-up — and it’s much more than skin-deep. Big moves like the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) are leading the charge to make cities greener, cleaner, and more authentic spaces where you can really see yourself thrive. On the road to net-zero, Saudi is reimagining urban life, boosting natural habitats, and planting forests’ worth of trees that will become the “green lungs” of tomorrow’s cities. And it’s not just about the environment, because greener cities open space to meet up, explore, and be creative. Let’s dive into some of the ways Saudi cities are changing the way that their residents live, work, and play.

1. Green spaces 

As part of the SGI pledge to plant 10 billion trees across the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia is building a number of new urban parks, including the world’s largest, King Salman Park, in the heart of Riyadh. Upon completion, the park will be almost five times the size of Central Park, or about seven times the size of Hyde Park (about 70% larger than the Bois de Vincennes/16 times the size of the Tiergarten in Berlin). Two thirds of the area will be lush plants, trees, and water features, while the rest will house cultural and meeting spaces, like the Royal Art Complex, sports courts, shops and cafés. 

City parks are already becoming features of urban life across the Kingdom, protecting each region’s natural heritage while giving each community a place to meet, exercise, or simply log off and touch grass. In the mountainous north of Saudi Arabia, Al-Samra Park sprawls below its namesake mountain, while on the Red Sea coast, residents of Jeddah and Yanbu enjoy their own picturesque Waterfront parks, where you can just as easily scuba dive as cycle. 

2. Living sustainably 

Saudi homebuilders are turning homes into a big part of the environmental equation, making our neighborhoods nicer and more affordable to live in. Living sustainably becomes that much easier when your home is built sustainably – you don’t have to constantly fiddle with the thermostat, check your sprinklers, or trek over to the recycling point. Things like smarter climate control, insulation and solar-powered utilities dramatically reduce your carbon footprint and keep a little more cash in your pocket at the end of the month. And water is recycled to feed your neighborhood’s green areas, while waste is recycled to drastically reduce landfill contribution.  

Neighborhoods are being designed to be enjoyable to walk in, with leafy, shaded pavements, nearby shops and amenities, and plenty of green space that both cools the environment and purifies the air you breathe. But if you’re thinking space-age homes out of sci-fi, think again. There’s been a revival of architecture that complements its surroundings – taking a page out of the local environment and architectural style whether they’re built in the east, west or center of the Kingdom. And rather than build over natural habitats, these communities highlight them, whether it’s a wadi or a mountain, keeping these natural wonders open for the public to enjoy. 

 3. Energy  

On the road to net-zero carbon emissions, Saudi is aiming to get about half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with enough now being built to power more than seven million homes. Taking advantage of the sunny climate, solar energy will make up the lion’s share of this renewable energy, with the rest given over to wind power. Saudi Arabia already has four up-and-running solar parks, with four more – much, much bigger! – being built coast to coast. That’s in addition to solar panels you can now see on many a roof around the Kingdom, reducing each home’s carbon footprint and making a noticeable dent in your utility bills. 

 4. Transport  

While Saudi remains a nation of car enthusiasts, massive investment in public transport is changing street layouts, creating striking new metro and train systems, and freeing up access to the streets and green public spaces, where cars once ruled the road. The opening of phase 1 of the Riyadh Metro caused a stir on social media recently, especially the epic design of the King Abdullah Finance District (KAFD) station – one of the late architect Zaha Hadid’s final projects. 

But scratch beneath the (gorgeous!) surface, and there’s plenty more ambition to be found. Set to be the longest driverless metro system in the world, Riyadh Metro will eventually incorporate six lines and 85 stations, serving up to 3.6 million passengers, while dramatically reducing congestion and improving air quality in Saudi’s fast-growing capital. Oh, and the fare? About a dollar (GBP 0.88/ EUR 1). 

But watch this space. EVIQ is building out EV charging infrastructure, to eventually cover the whole Kingdom. And don’t sleep on the exciting things happening over at CEER! Saudi Arabia’s first EV brand was only founded two years ago, but it’s already gearing up to write the next chapter of the Kingdom’s love for the automobile. 

 5. Conservation 

Saudi Arabia has so far rehabilitated over 118,000 hectares (291,584 acres) of land—an area larger than 165,000 FIFA-regulation sized soccer fields, a monumental effort that involves rewilding areas by reintroducing endangered species, restoring indigenous plant life, and protecting these areas both for biodiversity and future generations. Over time, this will also mean that wherever you live in the Kingdom of Adventure, you’re never too far from a prime hiking, birdwatching, picnic, or scuba spot. 

To date, nearly 400,000 sq km (154,440 sq mi) are under protection, and over 7,000 endangered species have been rewilded, including the iconic Arabian oryx, the Arabian and Sand gazelles, as well as the Nubian ibex. There’s more is to come too, because in Saudi’s wildlife centers, four cheetah cubs – the first in 40 years! – were born in 2024, as well as over 110 red-necked ostriches, which had gone extinct in the wild more than a century ago. 

With the Kingdom aiming to designate at least 30% of the country’s landmass for conservation, not only will these delicate ecosystems stay intact, but Saudis and visitors alike will be able to see them in all their natural glory.