Riyadh’s King Salman Park Set to Open First Phase in 2026
World’s Largest Urban Park Project Takes Shape in Saudi Capital
King Salman Park is poised to become one of the largest urban planning projects globally. The first phase of this ambitious development will open to the public in 2026. Located on the former Riyadh Air Base site, this expansive green space spans 16.6 square kilometers in Saudi Arabia’s capital.
The park is seven times larger than London’s Hyde Park. Moreover, it surpasses New York’s Central Park by five times. This massive scale reflects a broader transformation in cities across the Middle East region.
Transforming a Military Site into Public Green Space
The park occupies land once restricted as a military air base. Designers have reimagined this centrally located site into an accessible public realm. The masterplan prioritizes environmental regeneration and diverse recreational experiences.
Work began in 2019 under Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives. Since then, construction has progressed steadily across the site. The 2026 opening will deliver major sections of green space, walkways, and initial facilities.
Wadi-Inspired Design Features Natural Cooling Systems
A distinctive characteristic involves branching valleys inspired by Arabian Peninsula wadis. These shaded corridors create cooler microclimates within the desert climate. Additionally, vegetation will grow through soil regeneration layers and treated wastewater irrigation systems.
The project plans to establish over one million trees across the site. This represents a significant commitment to sustainability in an arid environment.
Cultural and Recreational Programming
King Salman Park integrates diverse programming beyond traditional park functions. The Innovation Loop provides a continuous path for walking, cycling, and electric mobility. This internal circulation spine connects major destinations throughout the site.
Cultural elements include the Royal Arts Complex, featuring performance spaces and galleries. Furthermore, the development incorporates residential areas and commercial districts. These mixed-use components offer places to live, work, and gather.
Sports fields, educational facilities, and family activity zones round out the programming. Meanwhile, pedestrian pathways encourage active transportation throughout the park.
Transit Connectivity and Urban Integration
The park connects to Riyadh’s expanding metro system through multiple stations. Bus rapid transit stops provide additional access points. These infrastructure connections reduce car dependency and promote walkable urbanism.
Transit integration positions the park as a catalyst for broader urban transformation. The project aims to reshape how residents experience their city.
Phased Development Through 2027
While the first phase opens in 2026, full completion extends into 2027 and beyond. Subsequent phases will deliver additional cultural, recreational, and mixed-use components. This phased approach allows incremental public access while construction continues.
What role will King Salman Park play in redefining green space standards for desert cities worldwide?
A Quick Architectural Snapshot
King Salman Park covers 16.6 square kilometers on the former Riyadh Air Base site. The project features wadi-inspired valleys, over one million trees, and treated wastewater irrigation systems. Cultural facilities include the Royal Arts Complex with performance venues and galleries. Multiple metro stations and bus rapid transit stops provide public access throughout the development.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
A 16.6 square kilometer park does not emerge from environmental ambition alone. It emerges from a convergence of sovereign capital seeking non-oil identity, a centrally located military asset rendered strategically obsolete, and a national mandate to reposition a capital city within global urban rankings.
The decision to convert a restricted air base into public green space follows a pattern observable across Gulf states: decommissioned sovereign land becomes the vehicle for civic branding when defense priorities shift. The scale, roughly seven times Hyde Park, is not determined by recreational demand analysis. It is determined by the competitive logic of urban planning benchmarks where size itself becomes the metric of ambition.
The reliance on treated wastewater irrigation and soil regeneration layers reveals an infrastructure dependency that will define the park’s operational future long after the opening milestone fades from global news cycles.
