São Paulo – Saudi Arabia announced the creation of four entertainment projects for Riyadh, its capital, worth USD 23 billion. The news was given by the king Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud this Tuesday (19), according to information published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The Saudi official news agency called the initiatives wellbeing projects.
Part of the announcement were the King Salman Park, the Sports Boulevard, the Green Riyadh, and Riyadh Art, which complement the Saudi Vision 2030’s “Quality of Life” Program. This is a strategic plan by the government aimed to reach 2030 relying less on oil, diversifying its economy, and developing further the health, education, infrastructure, recreation and tourism sectors.
According to SPA, the projects are also aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to create sustainable cities and communities, while driving action against climate change, and will contribute to an integrated approach to wellness, health, sports, culture and the arts. They will also offer investment opportunities and provide thousand of new jobs, according to SPA.
With its 13.4 square kilometers, King Salman Park will be a green oasis in an urban setting and will be the largest city park in the world. It will feature residences and hotels, an arts complex, including theaters, museums, cinemas, sports venues, water features, restaurants, a golf course, fountains and garden, and others.
Green Riyadh is a project aimed to increase the Saudi capital’s green cover from 1.5% of the total area to 9% with the planting of 7.5 million trees. According to SPA, green space availability will increase to 28 square meters per capita from the current 1.7 square meters per capita, helping to reduce average ambient temperature by 2 degrees Celsius. Treated sewage affluent will be used for the irrigation of the green areas.
Sports Boulevard will feature a 135-kilometer-long professional cycling track covering the city and the surrounding valleys. It will also feature a pavilion, riding stables and athletics tracks, with full accessibility. Riyadh Art will be a public art gallery without walls. A thousand art pieces will be curated through arts programs and there will be an annual arts festival. Its highlight will be an installation that will be Riyadh’s 21st century art statement, to be created by the world’s most innovative, creative and ambitious talent, according to SPA.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
