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Sports Boulevard

The Sports Boulevard is one of Riyadh’s four ambitious projects launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz on March 19th 2019. The project is a key component of the Saudi Vision 2030 and will contribute to Riyadh’s transformation into one of the top 100 cities in the world. The Sports Boulevard will encourage the citizens of Riyadh to follow a healthy lifestyle through physical exercise and participation in sports activities.

A Lifestyle

The Sports Boulevard extends for 135 km, across the city of Riyadh, connecting Hanifah valley in the West with As Sulay Valley in the East. The Sports Boulevard has safe, green pathways for pedestrians along the entire project. There are special routes for professional and amateur cyclists, horse riding paths, and designated sites for sporting activities, which include a Sport Tower – a high rise building that has courts for different indoor sports.

Expect More

The Sports Boulevard features over 4.4 million square meters of green spaces, 50 sports facilities, and investment zones spanning more than 3 million square meters. There will be a desert park of 20 sq km, including event venues, show piazza, outdoor museums and movie theaters. There will also be areas designated for investment zones, as well as recreational and commercial activities. There will be many landmarks and public art installations that will enrich the cultural lifestyle in the city of Riyadh.

Vision

The Sports Boulevard will encourage the citizens of Riyadh to follow a healthy lifestyle, exercising and participating in different physical activities such walking, cycling and horse riding. The boulevard will create a rich cultural, environmental, and recreational ambience in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Main Zones

The main zones of the Sports Boulevard include:

Hanifah Valley Zone

  • It covers a distance of 30 km from Al Olab Dam in historical Diyriah (north), to Al Madina Al Munawara Road (south).
  • This route will be dedicated to professional and amateur cyclists. It will also feature green pathways for pedestrians and horse riders.
  • It will have seven stops along the valley route that will have a bike maintenance center, coffee shops and retail outlets.

Arts District

  • This will extend for 3 km, from King Khalid Road (west) and will have cultural, art and recreational facilities.
  • There will be pedestrian, cycling and horse-riding paths, as well as sitting areas.
  • There will also be a collection of museums, libraries, studios, art forums, conference halls and locations set aside for investment.

Urban Wadi Zone

  • It covers a distance of 3.5 km and is located alongside Al Aysen valley, from Suwaid bin Harthah Road to King Fahad Road (west).
  • It will have a water canal.
  • In addition to having pedestrian pathways, bike paths, seating and potential investment areas, Al Aysen Zone will also connect to King Abdullah Financial District through an elevated road.

Entertainment District

  • Set between King Fahad Road (west) and Othman bin Affan Road, it covers a distance of 4 km.
  • It will have a 40 km long viaduct for professional cyclists, in addition to an at-grade track for amateur cycling.
  • This zone will boast a theater, cinema complexes, and an outdoor movie theater.
  • Events sites and interactive audio-visual shows will also be available.
  • It will include several parks, gardens and open spaces equipped with a cooling system for the summer season.
  • These elements will overlook business, residential and commercial facilities that will be available to potential investors.

Athletics District

  • It will extend from Othman bin Affan Road to Airport Road (east) for a distance of 5 km.
  • It will include 60 sports sites, featuring 16 football pitches, 18 covered courts for basketball and tennis, 12 courts for volleyball and a skiing venue.
  • The Sports Zone will be connected by a side road to Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University.
  • The iconic sports tower – a high rise building – will be inside the sports zone and will have courts for men and women.
  • There will be a number of courts and training halls for different sports such as: jogging, golf, boxing, basketball, tennis, badminton, swimming, archery and ice hockey.
  • Lower floors will have a velodrome, including one underground, next to the tower.

Environmental Zone

  • It will run for 14 km, from Airport Road to Al Janadriyah Road, along the Al Sulai valley.
  • This zone will have an elevated route for professional cyclists and one at-grade route for amateur cyclists.
  • It will feature tracks for pedestrians and joggers, connected to nearby neighborhoods.
  • Several centers will be constructed to educate residents on planting flowers, organic food and environmental sustainability.
  • Residential complexes will also be built, along with retail outlets, coffee shops and restaurants.
  • There will be nurseries for seed development, agricultural products and organic food production.

Al Sulay Valley Zone

  • It will be located along Al Sulay Valley, from King Fahad Stadium to Binban Park, over a distance of 53 km.
  • It will feature routes for professional cycling, horse riding, and green pedestrian pathways
  • It will have 15 stations along the valley including coffee shops, retail outlets, and a bike maintenance center.
  • It will also feature picnic and camping areas.

Sands Sports Park

  • A rural resort with different residential facilities.
  • A zoo spread over 5 sq km.
  • It will have a distinctive landmark – a curved cycling track in the shape of a flower, gradually rising 50 meters above the ground, to allow cyclists to enjoy the impressive view from the top.
  • It will be situated in the sandy areas – south-east of King Khaled International Airport, covering over 20,000 sq km.
  • This park will have professional cycling paths.
  • An equestrian center and horse-riding trails of 1 million sqm.
  • It will feature a visitor center, rest areas and gathering points for cyclists.

Opening of the First Phase of the Sports Boulevard Project

In February 2025, The Board of Directors of the Sports Boulevard Foundation, chaired by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sports Boulevard Foundation, announced the opening of the first phase of the Sports Boulevard project in Riyadh. This milestone included five key destinations: Wadi Hanifah, the Promenade, the section at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road, the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University internal loop and the first phase of Sands Sports Park. With this, the total completed length of the project now stands at 83 km, with an overall progress reaching 40%. ​

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