GREEN RIYADH PROJECT

The Green Riyadh Project is a large-scale urban forestation megaproject in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, launched in March 2019 by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and supervised by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC). It is one of four major projects intended to transform the capital city. The core goal is to elevate Riyadh’s global standing, positioning it among the world’s top 100 most sustainable and liveable cities by enhancing the quality of life for its residents.

The Green Riyadh Project is an ambitious urban forestation initiative focused on drastically increasing green spaces and ensuring sustainable irrigation in the arid capital. The goal is to plant over 7.5 million trees across 120 neighbourhoods and thousands of urban sites by 2030. This will increase the per capita green space from 1.7m2 to 28m2 and total green coverage from 1.5% to 9%. A critical enabler is a new, massive 1,350 km network constructed for treated wastewater irrigation to sustain the vast new vegetation.

Future Cities criteria compliance

Environmental & Nature

Sustainability is the main driver, aiming to tackle major environmental issues in an arid setting. The afforestation is projected to significantly reduce the city’s air temperature by 1.5°C to 2°C and combat the urban heat island effect. It achieves high water resource circularity by maximizing the use of 100% treated wastewater for irrigation. Increased vegetation will also improve air quality by absorbing dust and carbon dioxide (estimated 3% to 6% reduction) and enhance urban biodiversity.

Smart City

Technology is crucial for the Green Riyadh Project’s implementation and the city’s broader smart transformation. The initiative’s core, the recycled water network, is a high-tech infrastructure project that ensures sustainable irrigation.

The project supports the integration of AI-driven energy management and smart infrastructure to optimize resource use across the city, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030. Furthermore, the project relies on high-capacity nurseries and the careful selection of 99 drought-tolerant species to guarantee the resilience and survival of the planted green spaces.

Human-Centric

The project’s success is measured by improving residents’ quality of life, emphasizing a human-centred urban model. Providing accessible green recreational areas promotes healthier, active lifestyles and boosts mental well-being.

Integrating greenery into neighbourhoods fosters a vibrant, socially engaging atmosphere and enhances the overall aesthetic appeal and liveability of the city. Additionally, the initiative creates substantial new jobs and investment opportunities in the green infrastructure sector, supporting Vision 2030’s economic diversification goals.

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