Where a runway was,
a park is growing.
King Salman Park is one of the world's largest urban park projects, rising on Riyadh's former airbase. Here is everything known about it, with a source behind every number.
Published figures vary with what each source measures. By the numbers → · Why figures differ →
Five things to understand
It's a vast project with a lot of numbers flying around. This is the fastest way to the full picture.
- 1
What is it?
A vast public park with a cultural district, homes, hotels and offices around it.
- 2
What's open?
Nothing yet. The Foundation is preparing a phased soft opening.
- 3
What does it cost?
Figures range from $9bn to $25bn, because each one covers a different scope.
- 4
Who's building it?
Saudi and international architects, contractors and investors.
- 5
What's still unconfirmed?
Opening date, operators, handovers. We show what's known and what isn't.
From airbase to park
This land was Riyadh's old airport, then an airbase. Follow how it is changing, step by step, with a source for every milestone.
Watch the transformation →The places that will define it
Artist impression, not an official rendering
Royal Arts Complex
A chain of museums, theatres and studios along a grand boulevard
Artist impression, not an official rendering
Museum of World Cultures
A pyramid-like museum rising above the Royal Arts Complex
Artist impression, not an official rendering
National Theatre
A 2,300-seat stage at the heart of the Royal Arts Complex
Artist impression, not an official rendering
Visitor Centre
A rammed-earth welcome centre with a terrace and 360-degree views
Artist impression, not an official rendering
Grand Mosque
A 3,900-worshipper mosque with a 66 m minaret and a solar roof
Artist impression, not an official rendering
The Loop
A 7.2 km ring around the park for walking, cycling and shared mobility
Artist impression, not an official rendering
Art Park
A public-art park with a lake, a circular path and tree-crown canopies
Artist impression, not an official rendering
Water Treatment Complex
The plant that turns wastewater into the park's irrigation
Arena
A planned 20,000-seat arena for concerts, sport and events
How big is it, really?
Drop Central Park, Hyde Park and others onto King Salman Park at true scale.
Compare the scale →From 2019 to opening day
What's been announced vs the full plan
The plan calls for 12,000 homes and 2,300 hotel rooms. Here's how much the announced investment packages cover so far.
as of 12 Nov 2026 · Totals: Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Package figures: developer announcements. Sources →
How big is King Salman Park?
Why do sources give the park's area as anything from 16.6 to 17.2 km²?
Every source is describing the same place, but at different moments and with different boundaries. The 2019 launch announced 13.4 km²; later pages give 16.6 km² (SWA and Gerber), 16.7 km² (SPA), 16.9 km² (MEED, 2024) and 17.2 km² (Parsons). The Foundation's 2025 brochure says 17 million m², and the Royal Commission says more than 17 million m². A footprint …
Read more →Latest changes
- Status check: no asset is open yet and the Royal Arts Complex handover has not been announced.
- The Royal Commission's CEO updated the nation on the park at the 37th Government Press Conference.
- Dale Chadwick was named CEO of the King Salman Park Foundation.
- A temporary water plant is producing about 50,000 cubic metres a day while planting restarts.
- The Foundation is preparing a phased soft opening, with 95% of Phase 1 and 2 contracts awarded.
How a park works in the desert
How do you water a million trees in a desert?
Riyadh gets about 101 mm of rain a year and loses nearly twenty times that to evaporation. The park's answer is a loop of recycled water, deep soil and a very large treatment plant.
A valley where a runway used to be
The park stands on Riyadh's old airfield. Its designers are cutting the flat ground into branching wadis that shade, hold water and carry floods.
Shade, breeze and cool air
A walk through the layers the park uses against Riyadh's heat: shaded paths, planting zones, local-stone walls and a 60,000-tonne district cooling system.
For journalists and the project team
Free graphics with credit, sourced figures, and a direct line for corrections. We care about getting it right and welcome your input.
135 sources · 148 sourced figures · 52 organisations