Saudi: Riyadh Sports Boulevard Part Of Plan To Make City ‘One Of The World’s Greatest,’ Megaproject Boss Says
Riyadh’s massive Sports Boulevard project is well underway with the goal of transforming the Saudi capital into one of the world’s most liveable cities, according to exclusive details shared by Jayne McGivern, CEO of the Sports Boulevard Foundation (SBF).
The Riyadh Sports Boulevard will include the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and stretch over 135 kilometres from Wadi Hanifah in the West with Wadi Al Sulai in the East when complete, connecting the entire city through a series of green pathways for cycling, walking, horse riding and various sporting activities once complete.
Construction is moving ahead on schedule with the first phase set to open to the public later this year, McGivern said.
“The Sports Boulevard will span eight distinct districts and deliver iconic destinations and architectural highlights for Riyadh – including a state-of-the-art amphitheatre, performance spaces and artist exhibition areas, as well as designated investment zones for commercial opportunities including retail and real estate, among others,” she explained.
When finished by 2029, the project will have created over 4.4 million square meters of new green spaces and planted more than 170,000 trees. Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy world-class facilities for 50 different sports.
“There have been a number of construction milestones announced over the last year and there will be a range of phased openings between 2024 and 2029 with the first publicly accessible elements of the development – The Cycling Bridge and Promenade – due to be completed this year,” she added.
Saudi Arabia’s Sports Boulevard to have direct links to metro stations, other megaprojects
The project, launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz in March 2019, aims to fulfil the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to improve health, wellness and quality of life for all.
By making outdoor activities accessible to communities across Riyadh, officials hope to transform the city into one of the top 10 most liveable global destinations.
“The Sports Boulevard will be walking distance from 16 percent of Riyadh’s population and will have direct links to three major metro stations, connecting people to its world-class facilities for over 50 different sports and all the other mega projects, without driving anywhere,” McGivern said adding that the megaproject will have a “positive impact” across all sectors in Riyadh.
“It’s not just about world-class facilities, we will also create almost 5 million SQMT of greenery and open spaces, plant over 170,000 trees, in turn increasing the per capita share of green space in Riyadh by over 60 percent. In turn, this will boost tourism and Riyadh’s global stature as one of the world’s most liveable cities,” she said.
Sports Boulevard to open The Cycling Bridge, Promenade in 2024
Since the announcement of its launch, the Sports Boulevard’s construction has been progressing rapidly with a “range of phased openings” scheduled between 2024 and 2028, McGivern said, adding that some “publicly accessible” elements will open this year for visitors.
Elements include The Cycling Bridge and Promenade. “Progress is being made in the development of the different districts across the project, including King Khalid Road Underpass, King Abdulaziz Road Underpass, Promenade, the Urban Wadi and the Sands Sports Park,” she said.
Recently, Sports Boulevard signed a new partnership with Ajdan Real Estate Development and Albilad Investment Company in December 2023 to create a private real estate investment fund worth SAR1 billion.
This fund will support the mixed-use redevelopment of real estate in Riyadh, marking an important milestone in the city’s urban transformation, and will assist in world-class amenities being built in the Arts District of the Sports Boulevard project.
The residential, retail, office and food/beverage spaces developed through this fund aim to attract further investment and public-private collaborations going forward. It also enables a variety of property types catering to lifestyle, work and entertainment needs, McGivern revealed.
Riyadh Sports Boulevard to be ‘green spine’ of Saudi Arabia
With a focus on greenery and open spaces, Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard aims to create a sustainable sports and wellness ecosystem to motivate residents to adopt healthy and active lifestyles thus becoming a central “green spine” in the kingdom, McGivern said.
“Riyadh is changing to become a city fit for centuries and generations to come. In the future, it will be recognised as one of the world’s greatest cities. The Sports Boulevard’s vision is to create a ‘green spine’ in Riyadh that connects the city, enables sports adoption and improves quality of life in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030,” she explained.
Throughout the 4.4 million square metre megaproject, visitors can take advantage of various sports facilities, over 220 kilometres of cycling tracks, 134 kilometres of horse trails, and 135 kilometres of walking paths.
A key attraction will be the Sands Sports Park for cycling, running, equestrian activities, and hiking to encourage professional and amateur sports.
In terms of environmental goals, over 170,000 trees will be planted to achieve net zero carbon by 2060 and protect nature at the megaproject. Moreover, virtual reality and research are being used now to educate residents and plan activities to accelerate lifestyle changes.
Aside from these many plans, the Riyadh Sports Boulevard will also be an artistic megaproject as the SBF will include certain features and design elements to retain its uniqueness when compared to other similar projects around the world.
“We are guided by the goal to improve the design quality of the city whilst maintaining the beautiful, traditional architectural identity,” McGivern said, adding that new buildings within the project have been designed in line with the Sport Boulevard’s “Design Code.”
“[The Design Code] is compliant with the rigorous Salmani standards of architecture, density, materials used, landscaping required and importantly, the sustainable use of power. This will help to create a distinct local identity in Riyadh which is fully sustainable.
“For example, in keeping with the traditional architectural identify, construction of the Sands Sports Park is underway, an unprecedented nature restoration effort which is set to be an exceptional sports desert destination extending over 17 million sqm. The Najdi flower will bloom in the heart of the Sands Sports Park, with cycling pathways constructed in the shape of the flower.”
The Najdi flower is located in the heart of the Sands Sports Park, and is a 5 kilometre circular pathway, crafted to resemble the beautiful flower, paying homage to the indigenous plant life in the kingdom.
Managing existing utilities pose a challenge to the Riyadh Sports Boulevard
When asked of the challenges encountered during the project’s development, McGivern said that it is a challenge to manage existing utilities – including the removal of electrical overhead towers and cables – so that they do not clash with the Sports Boulevard’s infrastructure.
“To address this potential risk, our contractors diligently surveyed the area to identify the precise locations of existing utilities and cables, allowing us to incorporate this information into our project planning,” she explained. She further added that the megaproject is currently constructing three underpasses with the aim of improving traffic flow in the city and establishing uninterrupted routes for cyclists and pedestrians.
“It’s important that those whose lives we briefly disrupt understand just how transformative and beneficial the infrastructure and the project more broadly will be for years to come,” she concluded.
