Wadi Hanifa is one of the seasonal water passageways in the middle of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is located in Diriyah Governorate, Riyadh Province. It is one of the natural tourist attractions for the province's residents and the largest open park in the Kingdom.
The valley is relatively short, being only 160 km long. It extends west of al-Uyaynah and flows from the north to the southeast with an average slope of 2.8 m. It pours in the sands of as-Sahba village in al-Kharj Governorate. Wadi Hanifa is famous for its abundance of coral reefs and tributaries, i.e., forty valleys, that feed into its passageway. The most prominent valleys are Wadi Laha and Wadi Laban.
Due to the natural characteristics, the abundance of water and agricultural lands in its surroundings, Wadi Hanifa has formed a historical extension, as cities have been constructed on its banks, and the capitals of the first and second Saudi states were constructed on its lands, i.e. Diriyah then Riyadh.
Development of Wadi Hanifa
The valley is the most significant natural drain for water in Riyadh city and one of the natural landmarks constantly developed. The High Commission for the Development of ar-Riyadh has supervised its rehabilitation and has maintained its natural characteristics since 1986.
Distributed along the banks of Wadi Hanifa are six open entertainment parks covered with genus Tamarix (tamarisk), acacia, and vachellia tortilis plants.
For processing its water, the valley relies on both nature and technology to increase its flow and clear its water from pollution by providing it with air to increase the percentage of oxygen. A bio-treatment plant that is based on a weir system is used for this process.
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