King Abdulaziz Park

King Abdulaziz Park is one of the major parks in Riyadh City, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) announced on July 24, 2024, the commencement of its construction as part of the Green Riyadh Projects. The park is distinguished by its proximity to vital locations such as King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) and Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU).

A Royal Directive was issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to name the park "King Abdulaziz Park," following a recommendation from the Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of RCRC, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

King Abdulaziz Park is located in the northern part of Riyadh City, bordered by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Road to the north, Prince Badr Bin Abdulmohsen Road to the east, Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Abdulaziz Road to the west, and Anas Bin Malik Road to the south. It is near PNU and KKIA. The park is also connected to a railway station, facilitating access from different parts of the city.

The park's total area is approximately 4.3 million m, and the project is expected to take around thirty-six months to complete.

The design of King Abdulaziz Park was chosen from proposals submitted by four international companies, all of which presented ideas and designs focused on sustainability and environmental requirements. The winning design reflects the local environment and features six distinct styles for various tree types and their associated layouts, including the botanical garden, located at the center of the park, covering an area of approximately two hundred thousand m. It hosts around two hundred types of high-density native plants. Additionally, the garden takes advantage of the Munisiya Stream, a branch of Wadi Sulay that goes through the park, extending over eleven km with an area exceeding 770,000 m within the botanical garden, contributing to temperature reduction. The park also includes sustainably designed commercial buildings and a panoramic path of around two km in length.

The other five design styles include gardens representing highlands, plateaus, seasonal water flows, and desert gardens. These areas are planted with diverse trees and shrubs to support biodiversity, providing a habitat for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Approximately 65 percent of the park will be shaded by planting around two million trees and shrubs suited to the environment of Riyadh City, ensuring sustainability. The park will also use recycled irrigation water in quantities appropriate to the needs of the trees.

Furthermore, the park includes buildings designed to be environmentally attractive landmarks, offering a civilized scene that appeals to visitors and tourists for relaxation and leisure. Additionally, it has twenty-four kids areas, thirty sports areas scattered across the park, and tree-lined pathways designated for pedestrians, runners, and cyclists, stretching over 115 km. Moreover, the park hosts green terraces, plazas, restaurants, and open-air theaters for festivals, activities, and events.