Imagine a park the size of a small city. An oasis that’s five times bigger than New York’s Central Park. Built right in the middle of the Arabian desert. This is King Salman Park. It’s set to become the single biggest urban park in the world. But beyond just the scale, this project is actually about something much bigger. A quiet but sweeping cultural shift that is reshaping the way of life in Saudi Arabia. But what does a massive park have to do with that? Hey, I’m Louis. This is Mega Builds, and today, we’re exploring how the world’s largest urban park is shaping the future of an entire country. Saudi Arabia has long been a socially conservative country.
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Freedoms of Women
For most of its modern history, the kingdom has been known for its strict interpretation of Islamic law, shaping almost every part of public and private life. For decades, many things such as cinemas, newspapers, television, and even the internet were strictly censored. But perhaps most notably, the biggest restrictions were placed on the daily lives and freedoms of women. For years, women were required to follow strict dress codes in public. They weren’t allowed to travel abroad, apply for jobs, start a business, or even access vital health care without permission from their male partners or relatives. Even public spaces were heavily segregated. Cafes, restaurants, and offices all had their separate sections for men and women. In many ways, everyday life in Saudi Arabia was completely different compared to other countries around the world. But over the past decade, things have started to change. Quietly, yet dramatically, the kingdom has started opening up. We’ve talked about Saudi Vision 2030 countless times before on this channel, but usually only in the context of its massive mega-projects, which are part of a larger goal to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy away from oil. But what we didn’t talk about as much is that Vision 2030 is actually more than that. It’s also about diversifying Saudi culture and society itself. And this means new freedoms. Today, Saudi Arabia has slowly transformed into something that would have been completely unheard of a decade ago. Movie theaters reopened in 2017 after being banned for over 35 years. 
Freedoms Remain Limited
Public spaces like cafes, restaurants, and offices are no longer strictly segregated by gender. Women can now drive, travel without approval from a male, and work in jobs that were once completely closed off. Even the percentage of women in the country’s workforce has more than doubled over the past few years. However, despite all of these dramatic changes, it’s also important to understand that Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go. Despite real social reforms, political freedoms remain limited. Freedom of speech is restricted, and government criticism can have severe consequences. Saudi Arabia is changing, but the transformation is complex and ongoing. And it’s reshaping not just how Saudis live, but also how their cities and public spaces are being designed, which now brings us to King Salman Park. At its core, it’s a massive urban area that is currently being developed right in the middle of Riyadh. Built on top of the old Riyadh Air Base, it’s set to become the largest urban park in the world with a total area of around 16 square kilometers. For comparison, New York’s massive Central Park is only a measly 3.4 km. 
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Transformation in Society
At this scale, calling it a park almost feels like an understatement. Maybe a small city would be more appropriate because that’s basically what it is. And inside, you won’t just find trees and walking trails. The whole area will also be made up of many different sections, each with its own unique purpose. And now let’s check out the different elements of the park. First and probably most iconic of them all is the Royal Arts Complex. At over 500,000 square meters, this enormous facility will serve as a cultural hub. One of its main attractions is the Museum of World Cultures, an imposing triangular monolith that slopes 110 m above the ground. As the name suggests, this museum will showcase artifacts from different cultures all over the world. There’s also the National Theater, which will have a capacity of 2,300 seats. This venue is designed to be a multipurpose space capable of hosting various events such as operas and concerts. Surrounding these, there will also be an exhibition dome, a massive library, and various studios and art galleries. Content Source The entire complex is not just a place to look at art. It’s also meant to be a space to make it. Overall, the Royal Arts Complex represents a transformation in society, one that is more open and expressive. Another important element of King Salman Park is the visitor pavilion. Located just to the south of the Royal Arts Complex, spanning around 90,000 square meters, this section of the mega project serves as the main entrance to the rest of the park. 
Indoor and Outdoor Facilities
Its design is based on the principles of Zalmani architecture, which mixes traditional techniques and materials and interprets them in a modern context. The pavilion includes an auditorium, a conference hall, a planned nursery, restaurants, shops, and a library. There’s also a rooftop sky pavilion that offers breathtaking views of the entire park as well as the Riyadh skyline. Aside from these two main attractions, King Salman Park will also be home to a wide range of sports and entertainment venues, reinforcing its role as a new center of public life in Riyadh. First, there will be a massive sports complex that will offer indoor and outdoor facilities. On top of that, there’s also the 850,000 square meter Royal Golf Club, which will be the first of its kind and size in the middle of the city. But for those who want to get a little bit more action, they have a dedicated skydiving center. Because what better way is there to take in the sheer scale of this park than from high above? But aside from everything we’ve already mentioned, King Salman Park is also designed to be a place where people can actually live. Within the park, multiple residential areas are being built, totaling up to around 12,000 housing units. There will also be a total of 16 hotels and over 500,000 square meters of retail space, complete with restaurants, shops, cafes, and everything you’d expect from a modern city center. All of these are designed to be fully integrated, offering residents and tourists easy access to the rest of the park and its amenities. 
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Traditional Wadis Natural Dry
But of course, no park is complete without actual green space. And this is where King Salman Park truly lives up to its name. Out of the park’s total 16 km, 70% of it will be dedicated entirely to greenery and open spaces. And these aren’t just empty lawns, either. The park will feature a wide variety of thoughtfully designed landscapes, including various gardens, as well as a dedicated sanctuary for birds and butterflies. But probably the highlight and most important feature of the entire park is these massive man-made valley systems. These are designed not only to add beauty and variety to the landscape but also to help with climate control. These valleys function similarly to traditional wadis, natural dry riverbeds that are common in the region. These land formations channel wind and retain cool air within the system. They also provide much-needed shade and temperature relief, especially in the desert climate of Riyadh. To help keep things cool, it’s also going to feature over 300,000 square meters of water area. We’re talking everything from decorative fountains and little streams to peaceful lakes and ponds. 
7 km Circular Walkway
Connecting all of this will be a 7 km circular walkway, giving people a shaded route to explore the whole area on foot. But with so many ambitious promises, how much of King Simon Park has actually been built? Construction on the site began back in 2021. As of August 2025, the project has already made significant progress. The Royal Arts Complex, for example, is now halfway complete. The structural work on some of its most iconic buildings is already in advanced stages of construction. The same is true for the nearby visitor pavilion, which has already begun architectural detailing as well as interior work. Work on the green spaces has also begun, with many of the valley systems and water features now being shaped into the desert terrain. The initial phase of the circular pedestrian loop has already been laid down, and you can even see its outline on Google Maps, and other key infrastructure is also falling into place. One of the most important pieces is this tunnel right here, a 2.44 km underground road that runs directly beneath the park. This tunnel opened back in February 2024 and freed up much-needed space on the surface to make way for the park’s construction. 
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Mega Project at Around $9.4 Billion
Current estimates place the total cost of the entire mega project at around $9.4 billion. As for the timeline, the park is planned to open in phases. Some of the smaller sections, including public gardens and recreational facilities, could open in late 2026. More complex elements such as the royal arts complex, water features, and residential zones are expected to be completed by the following years. Overall, King Salman Park is a different kind of Saudi mega project. It represents something much deeper. It’s a symbol of a country opening up not just economically, but socially and culturally as well. However, the work is far from over. Building a truly open and inclusive society will require more than the changes this massive park alone can bring.
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