Saudi Arabia presents Sports Boulevard, the 'green plug' for entertainment and sports

Sports Boulevard is the world's largest linear park, an urban regeneration project that was one of the stars of the Saudi Pavilion at the last Mipim in Cannes. It is one of the so-called mega-projects under construction in Riyadh, announced in 2019 to connect the west with the east of the city: more than 135 km of extension (with 170,000 trees and more than 4 million square metres of green space) for this infrastructure that will affect a community of 2.2 million inhabitants, who live within a 30-minute walk or 15-minute bike ride.

A green 'plug' designed to offer spaces for entertainment and sports (with over 50 disciplines), as well as making a decisive impact by combating heat islands and carbon emissions. A concrete example of that manifesto in support of 'quality' that Fahad Al Hashem, deputy assistant minister for investment development at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment (Misa), reiterated in Cannes in an interview with Il Sole 24 Ore, emphasising that 'the 2030 vision calls for quality works and a lot of infrastructure. We want to be a leader in quality and also offer a lesson to other countries on the issues of Esg, the circular economy. And along these lines we are also ready to involve international investors. Today, economic activity and ambition far exceed the available capital, and by tapping into new markets, we seek partnerships with those who value quality.

As confirmed by the numerous protocols and commitments signed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in her Saudi mission a few months ago, 'in addition to economic resources, finance, there is room for the entire value chain, including developers, industry, companies and designers,' said Fahad Al Hashem.

Fahad Al Hashem, il viceministro aggiunto per lo sviluppo degli investimenti presso il ministero degli investimenti dell’Arabia Saudita

Saudi Arabia has been striving for years to set new standards in terms of design, construction and sustainability, creating investment opportunities worth more than USD 25 billion in building materials and services. "As we prepare to host global events, including Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034," added Deputy Minister Fahad Al Hashem, "there is a unique opportunity to integrate innovative and sustainable projects with cultural preservation. The Saudi Arabia of the future will celebrate the country's heritage while embracing cutting-edge technologies and sustainable building practices in line with our long-term vision, and the opportunities for global investors to be part of it are endless."

In addition to Sports Boulevard, at the Cannes fair, Invest Saudi showed other operations ranging from the New Murabba (a giant cube - 400 metres on a side - that will house a piece of the city in the heart of the capital) to the King Abdullah Financial District (the world's largest Leed Platinum certified business district), as well as telling its story through the Ministry of Culture rather than the recent Smart Accommodation for Residential Complexes Company dedicated to the theme of housing (for which the Vision to 2030 envisages 70% of Saudis owning a home within the next five years). Overall, Saudi Arabia has a total construction spending plan of USD 1.7 trillion, while the country offers a broad spectrum of new projects, including up to 2.5 million new homes and numerous tourism, hotel and commercial developments. The Saudi construction market, valued at USD 170 billion in 2024, is set to grow to over USD 200 billion by 2030.