King Salman Park timeline
Every event with its source, from the project's announcement to target opening dates. We keep what was planned visibly apart from what actually happened.
52 events · as of 12 Nov 2026
2019
Bofill commissioned to design the Royal Arts Complex
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City commissioned Ricardo Bofill's studio in 2019 to design the Royal Arts Complex, the cultural heart of the park.
ArchDailyMay 2025Omrania wins as lead design consultant
Argaam reported in March 2019 that Omrania won the international design competition. Henning Larsen shared the master planning. Other firms also report taking part, so the exact stages of the competition are unclear.
OmraniaArgaamMar 2019King Salman Park is launched
King Salman launched the park on 19 March 2019, one of four Riyadh projects announced together under Vision 2030. The Foundation runs it, under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.
King Salman Park Founda…Mar 2019Royal Commission for Ri…2019 plan: construction to begin in the second half of 2019
At the launch, the Foundation said work on the four projects would start in the second half of 2019. Construction in fact began in the third quarter of 2021.
King Salman Park Founda…Mar 20192021
Site-wide infrastructure package begins
The Freyssinet and Haif joint venture reports starting the site-wide package in September 2021, covering about 13 square kilometres of roads, drainage, irrigation, power and data.
Freyssinet Saudi ArabiaSep 2021First major contracts: about USD 1bn (SAR 3.85bn)
The Foundation awarded SAR 3.847bn of work for site preparation, tunnels and bridges on Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and Al Urubah roads, and groundwork for the Royal Arts Complex. This marks the real start of construction.
Royal Arts ComplexAbu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Tunnel
King Salman Park Founda…Jan 2022Arab NewsSep 20212022
Visitor Centre construction starts
The Foundation awarded the building contract to a national company and began work on the 90,000 square metre Visitor Centre, designed by David Adjaye with rammed-earth walls.
King Salman Park Founda…Jan 2022Modern Building Leaders selected for the Royal Arts Complex
MEED reported Modern Building Leaders as contractor for the complex, at about SAR 7.5bn (USD 2bn). Later reports quote a lower figure, so the value depends on the source and scope.
MEEDJun 2023Royal Arts Complex construction launched
The Foundation's board, chaired by the Crown Prince, launched construction on the Royal Arts Complex, more than 500,000 square metres with a museum, theatre, library, cinema and institute for traditional arts.
Royal Arts ComplexMuseum of World CulturesNational Theatre
King Salman Park Founda…May 2022George Tanasijevich appointed CEO
The Foundation's board appointed George Tanasijevich chief executive in December 2022.
Saudi Press Agency2023
Plan for the first infrastructure package: finish by March 2023
The contractor's profile gives 18 months from September 2021, so March 2023, for the site-wide infrastructure package. Phase 2 infrastructure followed in 2025.
Freyssinet Saudi ArabiaSep 2021District cooling plant contract awarded to SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin received a 27-month EPC contract for the park's first district cooling plant, with an ultimate capacity of 60,000 refrigeration tonnes.
Trade ArabiaJun 2023Landscaping contracts worth about USD 2.5bn
Nesma & Partners (about USD 2bn) and Al-Rashid (about USD 330m) won the landscaping and earthworks packages, the biggest planting job in the park's story.
MEEDJun 2023First real estate fund: SAR 4bn for District One
The Foundation, Naif Alrajhi Investment and Saudi Fransi Capital launched a SAR 4bn fund for the first private parcel, over 290,000 square metres. This became Package 1.
Al EqtisadiahSep 2023Eye of Riyadh / SPASep 2023Saudi Tabreed signs a 25-year district cooling agreement
The Foundation signed a 25-year build-own-operate-transfer agreement for 60,000 refrigeration tonnes, with 20,000 allocated to the first phase.
Saudi Press AgencySep 20232024
Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq tunnel completed and opened to traffic
The Foundation announced the 2,430 metre tunnel complete on 28 February 2024, with vehicles using it from 29 February. It was the first of the park's bridge-and-tunnel works to finish.
Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Tunnel
Al Eqtisadiah (SPA)Feb 2024SUSTGFeb 2024Water and sewage package: Al Bawani and Wetico selected
MEED reported the pair selected for the water treatment complex, a package worth over USD 500m.
guest.meed.comRoyal Arts Complex reported 48% complete
A Foundation executive told MEED that structural works on the complex were done and construction was 48% complete. More than 13 million cubic metres of soil had been excavated.
MEEDMay 2024Al-Orouba tunnel eastern route opens
The 2,150 metre Al-Orouba tunnel was completed in July 2024, with the eastern route opening to traffic. The exact day is garbled on the Foundation page.
King Salman Park Founda…Jul 2024Park valued at USD 9.4bn by Knight Frank
AGBI reported a July 2024 Knight Frank valuation of USD 9.4bn. It is a valuation of the development, not a construction cost.
AGBINov 2025Hartwig Fischer named founding director of the Museum of World Cultures
The Saudi Museums Commission named Hartwig Fischer as founding director and said the museum would open in 2026.
Saudi Press AgencyJul 2024Arab NewsJul 2024Accor and Naif Alrajhi sign the first TRIBE hotel in Saudi Arabia
The Package 1 hotel will have 250 rooms, with TRIBE Living adding 150 apartments. It was announced on 23 December 2024 and is the first TRIBE in the Middle East.
AccorDec 2024Hospitality Net / AccorDec 20242025
Early reporting: completion in 2024-25
Early reporting pointed to completion around 2024-25. That target was not met. Later timelines moved to a phased opening from late 2026 and substantial completion in 2027.
Oxford Business GroupDouglas Gautier named CEO of the Royal Arts Complex
The Ministry of Culture named Douglas Gautier to run and programme the complex and prepare its operations.
Saudi Press AgencyApr 2025KSA.com / SPAApr 2025Parsons appointed for project management office services
Parsons won a 25-month contract covering delivery strategy, design supervision, construction management and smart-city work, and acts as Engineer of Record for Packages 1 and 2.
ParsonsApr 2025Construction images show the Royal Arts Complex rising
ArchDaily published construction photographs of Bofill's complex: 13 structures totalling about 320,000 square metres.
ArchDailyMay 2025Architizer A+ Awards recognise the Water Treatment Complex
Omrania announced an Architizer A+ Award for its design of the water treatment complex.
OmraniaJun 2025Haif awarded Phase 2 infrastructure
MEED reported the award in July 2025 at about SAR 1.8bn (USD 480m). Freyssinet lists a larger SAR 3.2bn Phase 2 contract for the joint venture, so the two figures measure different things.
MEEDNov 2025RIBA Future Project award for Gerber Architekten's park design
Gerber Architekten won the Future Project category at the first RIBA Middle East awards for its park design, reported in November 2025.
Asharq Al-AwsatNov 2025RIBANov 2025SWA GroupPhase 2 infrastructure works begin
Haif started roads, power, water, irrigation, sewage, stormwater and district cooling works for the second phase.
MEEDNov 2025Ajdan and SEDCO Capital launch a USD 1bn mixed-use fund
The SAR 3.8bn fund covers 106,000 square metres on Oruba Road beside the Royal Arts Complex, with 600+ homes and 45,000 square metres of offices. The National reported it on 17 November and AGBI on 18 November.
The NationalNov 2025AGBINov 20252026
Museum of World Cultures: 2026 opening target set in 2024
In July 2024 the museum was due to open in 2026. No newer date has been announced, and the Royal Arts Complex handover is not expected until between December 2026 and March 2027.
Royal Arts ComplexMuseum of World Cultures
Saudi Press AgencyJul 2024MEEDSep 2026RIBA Journal tours the site
RIBAJ described the landscape taking shape, from the Visitor Centre's rammed earth to the Museum of Earth canyon and the Art Park, which it called the first zone to open.
RIBA JournalMar 2026MIPIM 2026: Packages 4 and 5 announced, over USD 3.8bn of new commitments
Package 5 is led by Kolaghassi (SAR 11bn, about 3,700 homes). Package 4 is led by Retal (SAR 3.2bn, 600+ homes). The Foundation counts over SAR 20bn across five packages. Reports differ on whether the Retal award was completed in November 2025 or March 2026.
Arab NewsMar 2026PRNewswire / KSPFMar 2026Saudi Gulf ProjectsMar 2026Retaining walls complete: 17 km of local stone
The Foundation announced the retaining walls finished: 17 kilometres, built with 122,500 tonnes of local Riyadh stone, shaping the wadis, hills and plateaus.
Al Madina (SPA)May 2026FIABCI World Prix d'Excellence 2026: Sustainable Development
Saudi reports say the Foundation won the silver award in the Sustainable Development category. One FIABCI page appears to list it among gold winners, so the medal level is unsettled.
Eye of RiyadhJul 2026Smart operations and maintenance building reported complete
Sabq reported the 35,000 square metre building complete in June 2026. In September it became the Foundation's interim home inside the park.
MEEDSep 2026SabqJun 2026CEO exit reported
EnterpriseAM, citing unnamed sources, reported that George Tanasijevich was leaving and Dale Chadwick would take over. No reason was given.
EnterpriseAMJul 2026Foundation and Huawei sign an MoU on an AI-powered smart park
The two-year MoU covers AI, smart-city platforms and digital infrastructure pilots. The exact signing date is not confirmed; the first report found is from about 2 September 2026.
Saudi Press AgencyFoundation opens interim headquarters inside the park
About 230 to 240 staff moved from KAFD into the operations and maintenance building in the park. A permanent headquarters is still to come.
Saudi Press AgencySep 2026MEEDSep 2026Acting CEO outlines a phased soft opening
Dale Chadwick told MEED's conference that some landscaped areas could open soon, but a 12 square kilometre park needs a process first. The opening plan was going to the board, with announcements to follow. No date or first area has been named.
MEEDSep 2026MEEDSep 202623 expressions of interest in private assets
MEED reported 23 developer expressions of interest. One private package is on site, one is near award and three are in design.
MEEDSep 2026MEEDSep 2026Phase 3 to be replanned; golf course to be replaced
MEED reported that Phase 3 is being replanned and the golf course once planned there will be replaced so the site can be commercialised. The replacement use is not stated.
MEEDSep 2026MEEDSep 2026Planting season restarts: about 4 million plants this year
Landscaping restarts at 50,000 to 60,000 plants a day. A temporary water plant is producing about 50,000 cubic metres a day, and 95% of Phase 1 and 2 contracts are awarded.
The LoopWater Treatment Complex
MEEDSep 2026Phased opening targeted for late 2026
ArchDaily reported in February 2026 that initial phases were expected in late 2026. Art Park was named as the first zone, but that has not been reconfirmed since September 2026. No asset is open and no date is announced.
ArchDailyFeb 2026RIBA JournalMar 2026Dale Chadwick appointed CEO
The Saudi Press Agency announced Dale Chadwick as CEO after he served as acting CEO from September. He has more than 30 years in construction and development. The reason for his predecessor's exit is not stated.
Saudi Press AgencyOct 2026Al MadinaOct 2026RCRC CEO speaks at the 37th Government Press Conference
Ibrahim Al-Sultan said the 17 million square metre park is progressing, large parts of Phase 1 infrastructure are complete, and planting continues. No opening date was given.
Royal Commission for Ri…Oct 2026SabqOct 2026Royal Arts Complex handover to the Ministry of Culture expected
MEED reported on 30 September 2026 that handover is due within three to six months, so between December 2026 and March 2027. No handover has been announced yet.
MEEDSep 20262027
Substantial completion targeted for 2027
ArchDaily reported that substantial completion is targeted for 2027, with full completion later. Residential and hotel handover dates have not been published.
ArchDailyFeb 2026Parsons PMO contract ends (calculated)
Counting 25 months from April 2025 gives about May 2027. This date is our arithmetic, not a published end date.
ParsonsApr 20252030
Full completion targeted for 2030
Gerber Architekten told Arab News in October 2025 that the park should be complete by 2030, with some areas ready sooner.
ArchDailyFeb 2026Arab NewsOct 20252040
2019 plan: full completion reported as 2040
Arabic press coverage of the 2019 launch gave 2040 for full completion. Later official timelines do not repeat it and now point to 2027 for substantial completion and 2030 for full completion.
AjelMar 2019What was planned vs what happened
Targets are drawn with a dashed outline. Many announced dates for the park have moved over time, so we never treat a target as a fact until it happens, and we keep the original source for every promise.
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