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.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry’s Agency for Mosque Affairs, revealed its intensive efforts to protect the assets of the houses of God, as its annual report announced the monitoring of 774 cases of encroachment on electricity and water services for mosques in various regions of the Kingdom during the year 2025 AD.

Details of the annual report and handling of violations

The statistical report provided a detailed breakdown of the types of violations, with encroachments on the electricity grid topping the list at 577 cases, while encroachments on water services reached 197 cases. These figures are the result of ongoing monitoring tours conducted by the ministry's branches. The ministry demonstrated high efficiency in addressing these violations, with field and technical teams successfully resolving 742 cases (569 related to electricity and 173 to water), while 32 cases remain under final legal procedures.

The importance of protecting public resources and ensuring the sustainability of services

These efforts are of paramount importance in the context of preserving public funds and national resources, as the misuse of electricity and water resources belonging to mosques for personal or commercial purposes constitutes a drain on operational resources. This type of misuse not only places an additional financial burden on the state but also directly and negatively impacts the efficiency of services provided to worshippers, and may lead to service interruptions or damage to mosque infrastructure due to uncalculated overloads.

Regulatory context and legal procedures

These measures align with the Kingdom's general directives regarding service governance and rationalizing consumption, and are part of the Ministry's strategy for the care and maintenance of mosques. The Ministry affirmed its commitment to continuing field inspections and monitoring, emphasizing that it will not hesitate to take strict legal action against violators, in full coordination with relevant security and service agencies, to ensure that such practices, which contravene the sanctity of mosques and established regulations, are not repeated.

The role of society in oversight

In closing its report, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs reiterated its call to citizens and residents to play their part in social responsibility and cooperate by reporting any observations or suspected encroachments on mosque facilities. Reports can be easily submitted through the unified call center 1933 or by visiting any of the ministry's branches. The ministry emphasized that community awareness is the first line of defense in preserving mosques and their facilities, ensuring they remain suitable for performing religious rites in an atmosphere of tranquility.

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.