meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Transforming Riyadh into a world-class city

25 July 2024

 

Register for MEED's 14-day trial access 

Riyadh is changing fast. As the Saudi capital, it is not only located in the country’s geographical centre, but also at the heart of Vision 2030 and the kingdom’s economic transformation, with a wide range of ambitious development projects.

The city wants to be one of the best in the world. “The strategic vision for Riyadh focuses on transforming it into a world-class city that is sustainable, innovative and culturally rich,” says Fahad AlSolaie, deputy mayor for digital transformation and smart cities at Riyadh Region Municipality. 

“The vision includes improving quality of life for residents, diversifying the economy away from oil dependence, and promoting green and smart urban development.”

Riyadh’s ambitions are driven by population growth and people visiting the city for major global events. “Riyadh is expected to experience significant population growth in the coming years, driven by its economic expansion and global events hosted by the kingdom, such as Expo 2030 and major sports events,” says AlSolaie.

“Additionally, the presence of large-scale unique projects like the King Abdullah Global Gardens, the development of Wadi Al-Sulay, King Salman Park and others contribute to the city’s attractiveness and livability, further boosting population growth. It is targeted for the population of Riyadh to reach 10 million residents, reflecting its rising prominence as a business and cultural hub. This growth will enhance Riyadh’s status as a dynamic urban centre, equipped to meet the evolving needs of its expanding population.”

The vision includes improving quality of life, diversifying the economy, and promoting green and smart urban development
Fahad AlSolaie, Riyadh Region Municipality

Infrastructure projects

Riyadh Region Municipality is playing a key role in the city’s development. “Riyadh municipality is responsible for a wide array of infrastructure projects that are crucial for the city’s development and sustainability. These include paving, asphalting and road stabilisation projects, which are essential for maintaining and improving the city’s road networks,” says AlSolaie.

“The municipality develops public parks, ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place to provide recreational spaces. Bridge and tunnel construction and ongoing enhancements are also a significant focus, aimed at improving traffic flow and connectivity across the city. Furthermore, Riyadh is committed to extensive lighting projects and the maintenance of these systems, with the city one of the largest globally in terms of the number of streetlight poles.” 

A key responsibility of the municipality is to maintain the city’s cleanliness and environmental health, adds AlSolaie. “This involves regular street cleaning, waste management and pollution control measures to keep the city clean and environmentally sustainable. These efforts are integral to quality of life, contributing to the vision of making Riyadh a more livable and accessible urban environment.”

Signature schemes

The municipality is also involved in the delivery of a series of signature projects in and around Riyadh. “The King Abdullah Global Gardens project aims to create a vast green space that combines natural landscapes with high-tech interactive exhibits, promoting environmental education and sustainability,” says AlSolaie. 

The Wadi Al-Sulay development, meanwhile, is focused on transforming Wadi Al-Sulay into a recreational and cultural destination, featuring amenities that encourage outdoor activities and community gatherings.

The municipality collaborates extensively with other government agencies and private sector partners to ensure cohesive and integrated development. This includes coordinating efforts on large-scale projects, urban planning and infrastructure improvements to support the city’s growth.

“The municipality ensures alignment with master developers and major projects through regulatory frameworks, strategic planning sessions and collaborative platforms that facilitate integration of infrastructure projects and urban development efforts across the city,” says AlSolaie.

With aspirations to become one of the world’s most advanced cities, digital transformation is helping Riyadh achieve its goals. “Digital transformation is vital for Riyadh Municipality for several compelling reasons. Firstly, it enhances service efficiency by adopting digital technologies, streamlining operations, reducing manual processes, minimising errors and speeding up response times. This not only improves service delivery, but also cuts operational costs, allowing for better resource allocation. 

“Secondly, it improves citizen engagement through digital platforms that enable interactive and responsive communication. Citizens can easily access information, request services and provide feedback, enhancing transparency and building trust.

“Thirdly, digital transformation fosters innovation in urban management using technologies such as the Internet of Things , artificial intelligence and big data analytics to optimise urban functionalities like smart waste monitor manholes and public safety. 

“Additionally, it supports economic diversification by modernising infrastructure and services, thus attracting new businesses, especially in the technology sector, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” says AlSolaie.

Online services

Riyadh Region Municipality is moving its services online as part of the digital transformation. “Riyadh municipality is progressively digitising its services by offering e-services platforms where residents can access various municipal services such as mobile applications, geoportal web application and service requests online, thus increasing accessibility and convenience,” says AlSolaie. 

The drive to digitise will enable Riyadh to become a smart city. “By implementing advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and geographic information systems, Riyadh Municipality is optimising key city functions such as reducing and monitoring visual pollution, enhancing public safety and conducting environmental monitoring,” he says. 

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12219710/main.gif
Colin Foreman

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Dubai extends bids for Hassyan SWRO pipeline packages

    7 May 2026

    Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has extended the bid submission deadlines for two water transmission pipeline packages linked to phase two of the Hassyan seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in Dubai.

    The tenders cover the supply, installation, testing and commissioning works for glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) water transmission pipelines. The project will enable potable water to be transmitted from the phase two plant into Dubai’s transmission network.

    The tender bond for the first package is AED9.6m ($2.6mn). The tender bond for the second project is AED17.9m. The deadlines for the two projects have been pushed back to 2 June and 4 June, respectively.

    Local firms Al-Nasr Contracting, Tristar E&C and Wade Adams, along with UAE firm Binladin Contracting Group, are among the companies expected to submit bids for the main contracts for these projects.

    In April, Dewa issued two separate tenders for transmission projects in the emirate.

    The first tender covers the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of GRE water transmission pipelines and associated works at several locations in Dubai. The closing date for submissions is 4 June. Bidders are required to provide a tender bond of AED9m ($2.45m).

    The second tender relates to 132kV cable works and associated modifications at several substations, including the Autosouq, Crystal and Danaro Road substations. The package also includes a new 132kV cable circuit and cable shifting works linked to the DXB INTRL 400/132kV substation.

    The bid submission deadline is 11 June, with a required tender bond of AED17.5m.

    In January, Dewa announced that construction of the 180 million imperial gallons a day phase one of the Hassyan SWRO independent water project was 90% complete.

    READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Global energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16716599/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Teams form for Qiddiya high-speed rail PPP

    7 May 2026

     

    Firms are forming joint ventures as part of a public-private partnership (PPP) package to bid for the upcoming works on the Qiddiya high-speed rail project in Riyadh.

    The latest development follows Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Qiddiya Investment Company and the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP receiving prequalification statements from firms by 30 April for the PPP package of the rail project.

    The consortiums that are planning to bid for the PPP package are:

    • McQuarie / Hitachi / Keolis / Albawani / WeBuild / Hyundai / HyundaiRotem
    • ⁠Plenary / Siemens / MTR / FCC / Nesma & Partners / Freyssinet
    • ⁠Vision Invest / CRRC / Mapa 
    • Mada International / ⁠Renfe / Alstom / Hassan Allam Construction / El-Seif Engineering Contracting / China State Construction Engineering Corporation / Limak Holding
    • Lamar Holding / Talgo / Mermec / China Harbour Engineering Company / Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting

    The prequalification notice was issued on 19 January, and a project briefing session was held on 23 February at Qiddiya Entertainment City.

    The Qiddiya high-speed rail project, also known as Q-Express, will cover 84 kilometres, connecting King Salman International airport and King Abdullah Financial District with Qiddiya City.

    The line will operate at speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour, reaching Qiddiya in 30 minutes.

    There are five stations planned: Qiddiya Grand Central Station, Qiddiya Uptown Station, King Abdullah Financial District, Terminal 6 King Salman International Airport (KSIA) and Iconic Terminal at KSIA.

    Last month, MEED exclusively reported that contractors had submitted their prequalification statements for the engineering, procurement, construction and financing package by 16 April.

    In November 2023, MEED reported that French consultant Egis had been appointed as the technical adviser for the project. UK-based consultancy Ernst & Young is acting as the transaction adviser, and Ashurst is the legal adviser.

    READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Global energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16716585/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Contractor wins $218m Aramco-backed logistics hub deal

    7 May 2026

     

    Saudi Amana, the local affiliate of UAE-based construction firm Group Amana, has won an estimated SR820m ($218m) contract to build a logistics complex at King Salman Energy Park (Spark) in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.

    Asmo, the logistics joint venture of Saudi Aramco and DHL Supply Chain, awarded the contract.

    Asmo received the main contract bids on 18 March, as MEED reported.

    Al-Khobar-based engineering firm House of Consulting Office is the project consultant.

    In February, Asmo signed an agreement with Bahrain‑headquartered Arcapita Group Holdings to deliver the project at Spark.

    The project will feature a 43,000-square-metre (sq m), temperature-controlled Grade A warehouse; more than 3,000 sq m of offices and staff amenities; 5,300 sq m dedicated to chemicals storage; and an open yard covering about 1.2 million sq m.

    Planned for large-scale industrial use, the site is expected to incorporate advanced warehouse and building management systems, end-to-end digital connectivity, automation and robotics.

    It will also be developed in line with internationally recognised sustainability standards, featuring solar photovoltaic readiness, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and a target of Leed Gold certification.

    The development aims to support the next stage of Saudi Arabia’s logistics and supply chain expansion.

    Under the deal structure, Arcapita will provide funding and retain ownership of the asset, while Asmo will develop the facility and then lease and operate it under a 22-year occupational lease.

    According to a statement, “the scheme will be executed via a forward-funding model, underscoring a long-term commitment to national infrastructure”.

    Asmo added that this will be its first purpose-built logistics centre and one of four strategic locations planned to anchor its nationwide logistics network, aligned with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030.

    READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Global energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16715420/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Kuwait postpones bid deadlines for four downstream oil tenders

    7 May 2026

     

    Kuwait has extended bid deadlines for four tendered contracts that are all focused on the country’s Mina Al-Ahmadi (MAA) refinery.

    The contracts include a project that has been tendered by state-owned downstream operator Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) to upgrade water transmission and storage infrastructure at the refinery.

    The contract will use the engineering, procurement and construction model and the tender was originally issued in October 2025 with an initial bid deadline of 4 January 2026.

    The tender has already seen several extensions and the latest rescheduling has set the bid deadline back from 19 April 2026 until 10 May 2026.

    The project is expected to take two years to complete and its scope is focused on expanding water storage capacity at the facility, either through extending existing tanks or building new tanks.

    The winning bidder will also be responsible for developing associated infrastructure and upgrading related systems that transport desalinated water to the refinery, such as pipelines and other infrastructure.

    In its 2024-25 annual report, KNPC said the project will help to meet demand for water at the facility’s refining and gas production units.

    The other three contracts are all maintenance contracts, which were also tendered by KNPC and have had their bid deadlines extended until 30 June 2026.

    The first of these is focused on mechanical maintenance of the Clean Fuel Project (CFP) units at the facility, as well as gas liquid production facilities.

    The CFP units were added to the refinery as part of the $16bn CFP, and were brought online in 2021.

    The project aimed to increase Kuwait’s capacity to produce low-sulfur fuels and, as part of the project, the MAA refinery was integrated with Kuwait’s Mina Abdulla (MAB) refinery.

    The project increased the capacity of MAB to 454,000 barrels a day (b/d) and the MAA refinery to 346,000 b/d.

    The second maintenance contract is focused on the mechanical maintenance of refining and production units at the MAA facility. The third contract is focused on workshop maintenance at the facility.

    The MAA refinery has been hit in several attacks during the US and Israel's war with Iran, which started on 28 February 2026.

    The full extent of the damage to the facility is currently unclear.

    Last month, MEED revealed that state-owned oil companies in Kuwait have fast-tracked the award of contracts to repair damage to infrastructure in the oil and gas sector.

    To expedite the award of contracts, deals were directly negotiated with trusted contractors without public tenders.

    The contracts were negotiated by senior officials at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation subsidiaries including Kuwait Oil Company and KNPC, sources said.

    It is not known whether any of these contracts related to repairs at the MAA refinery.

    READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Global energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16715383/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Oman signs exploration agreement for methane hydrates

    7 May 2026

    Oman’s Ministry of Energy & Minerals (MEMR) has signed an agreement with Victarens Global Energy for the exploration of methane hydrates in Block 83 in the sultanate.

    Under the agreement, Victarens Global Energy will perform a study of Block 83, which spans approximately 11,000 square kilometers onshore Oman, over an initial period of two years, extendable for an additional two years based on the outcomes of the studies.

    “This step marks the first initiative of its kind in the sultanate to assess the potential of gas production through non-conventional methods, contributing to the diversification and sustainability of energy sources,” the MEMR said in a statement.

    The agreement was signed in Muscat by Salim Bin Nasser Al-Aufi, Oman’s Energy & Minerals Minister, and Kenan Issa, CEO of Victarens Global Energy.

    The project will be implemented in two main phases. The initial investment for the first phase is estimated at approximately $20m, while the second phase is expected to require around $200m, “reflecting the strategic importance of this project in exploring non-conventional energy resources”, the MEMR said in a statement.

    ALSO READ: Oman awards manganese exploration concession deal

    The scope of work on the first phase includes geological studies, analysis and reprocessing of existing geophysical data, and carrying out new seismic surveys to determine the volume and thickness of methane hydrate layers within the study area.

    Based on the results of this phase, the project will proceed to the second phase, which involves installing extraction equipment and testing the feasibility of commercial production.

    Should the project demonstrate economic viability for methane hydrate production, negotiations will be conducted between the MEMR and the company to establish a long-term agreement, including the commercial terms and profit-sharing mechanisms that ensure mutual benefits for both parties.

    “This agreement aims to explore and assess methane hydrate resources, supporting the adoption of advanced technologies in the energy sector and reinforcing the transition toward future energy sources, while promoting innovation and sustainability in the utilisation of natural resources. The agreement aligns with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which focuses on economic diversification, the development of the energy sector and strengthening the sultanate’s position as a regional hub for energy and advanced technologies,” the MEMR statement added.

    READ THE MAY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Global energy sector forced to recalibrate; Conflict hits debt issuance and listings activity; UAE’s non-oil sector faces unclear recovery period amid disruption.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the May 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16703851/main1050.jpg
    Indrajit Sen