The Riyadh Municipality has commenced construction on two major environmental and recreational projects in the south and east of the capital: Al-Jazira and Al-Dar Al-Bayda parks, covering a total area of ​​over 317,000 square meters. This strategic initiative is being undertaken in collaboration with the Quality of Life Program, a key component of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, with the aim of transforming Riyadh into a sustainable and people-friendly urban destination.

Project details and targeted locations

The municipality explained that the new project aims to serve more than 1.4 million residents in neighboring districts. An area of ​​147,700 square meters has been allocated for the creation of "Al-Jazira Park" in eastern Riyadh, which will serve more than 600,000 residents. In the south of the capital, work is underway on "Al-Dar Al-Bayda Park," covering an area of ​​169,500 square meters, to meet the needs of more than 795,300 residents, reflecting the municipality's commitment to the equitable geographical distribution of recreational services.

Urban development context and Vision 2030

This project is not just an addition to traditional recreational spaces, but comes within the context of a historic transformation that the Saudi capital is witnessing to increase the per capita share of green spaces, in line with the “Green Riyadh” initiative and the objectives of Vision 2030. These projects seek to humanize cities, improve the urban landscape, reduce carbon emissions and lower temperatures, which directly contributes to raising Riyadh’s ranking among the most livable cities in the world.

Integration with the transport network and vital facilities

One of the most notable features of the new designs is their integration with the public transport infrastructure; the Casablanca Park includes an integrated metro station, which facilitates access for visitors via the Riyadh Metro network and reduces reliance on private cars, a global trend in modern urban planning to promote environmental sustainability and ease of mobility.

Full-service entertainment destinations

The two parks are designed as vibrant community hubs, featuring expansive green spaces, dedicated pedestrian and cycling paths, and a variety of sports facilities that encourage residents to lead healthy lifestyles. The plans also include children's play areas, water features, a selection of restaurants and cafes, and spaces equipped to host cultural and community events and activities, fostering social connections among neighborhood residents.

As part of its ongoing efforts to regulate the mining sector and ensure that facilities comply with regulations, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced the implementation of 311 field inspection tours of a number of mining sites in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during December 2025. These tours come as a confirmation of the Ministry’s commitment to implementing the Mining Investment Law, where the Ministry adopts the principle of issuing warnings when initial violations are detected, in application of the policy of “warning before imposing the penalty,” which reflects a corrective approach aimed at raising the level of compliance before resorting to punitive measures.

Details of inspection tours and their geographical distribution

The official spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Jarrah Al-Jarrah, revealed the geographical distribution of these intensive inspection tours, with the Eastern Province topping the list with 92 inspection tours, followed by the Riyadh region with 85 tours, then the Asir region with 51 tours, and the Madinah region recorded 42 tours on mining sites.

The monitoring efforts extended to the rest of the Kingdom, with 18 inspection tours conducted in the Tabuk region, 9 in the Makkah region, 6 in the Hail region, and 5 in the Najran region. The tours also included one visit each to the Jazan, Al-Baha, and Al-Jawf regions, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the Kingdom's geographical area.

The importance of oversight in protecting wealth and societies

The Minister affirmed the Ministry's commitment to continuing its inspection tours and monitoring all mining activities. These field visits aim to ensure the sector's protection from irregular practices that could harm the investment environment or unjustly deplete resources. He also emphasized the importance of preserving mineral wealth to achieve its optimal exploitation, as well as protecting communities adjacent to mining areas from any negative impacts, in accordance with the strict regulations stipulated in the new Mining Investment Law.

The mining sector: the third pillar of national industry

These oversight tours are of paramount strategic importance as Saudi Arabia, within its Vision 2030, aims to establish the mining sector as the third pillar of national industry, alongside oil, gas, and petrochemicals. Through these measures, the Ministry seeks to maximize the value derived from mineral resources and enhance the sector's attractiveness to both local and international investors by providing a transparent and regulated operating environment.

Official estimates indicate that the value of untapped mineral resources in the Kingdom is approximately 9.3 trillion riyals. These resources are spread across more than 5,300 sites, making effective monitoring an urgent necessity to ensure the sustainability of these resources, diversify national income sources, and develop non-oil revenues, thus serving the national economy and creating new job opportunities for citizens.