The Riyadh Parking Project announced a new expansion step aimed at enhancing urban organization in the capital, by activating free managed parking in three vital residential neighborhoods: King Salman neighborhood, King Abdullah neighborhood, and Al-Muhammadiyah neighborhood. This decision is scheduled to come into effect starting from February 15.

Context of urban development and quality of life

This announcement comes amidst the major transformations Riyadh is undergoing as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically the Quality of Life Program. The capital is striving to address the traffic challenges resulting from population density and rapid urban growth. The problem of haphazard parking and vehicle congestion within residential neighborhoods—especially those adjacent to commercial areas—is one of the most prominent issues troubling residents, prompting regulatory intervention through the "Riyadh Parking" project to ensure smooth traffic flow and preserve the city's aesthetic appeal.

Activation details and benefits offered to residents

The project management explained that this step reflects a qualitative shift to a broader operational phase, directly aimed at protecting the privacy of residential neighborhoods and preventing vehicles from spilling over from busy commercial streets into quiet residential areas. Riyadh Parking confirmed that the new system carefully considers the social needs of residents, offering the following advantages:

• Simplified family permits: The possibility of issuing free residential permits for first-degree relatives (parents and children) valid for a full year and renewable, by adding the resident’s address as an additional national address in the application.
• Guest visit management: The system allows residents to issue visitor permits with high flexibility, whether for private visits (less than 20 vehicles) or public invitations for large events that do not require entering data for each vehicle, making it easier to host guests without the hassle of searching for parking spaces.

Past successes and future plans

The decision to expand into the three new neighborhoods was based on the tangible positive results achieved in previous phases, which included the neighborhoods of Al-Wurud, Al-Rahmaniyah, Al-Muruj, Al-Ulya, and Al-Sulaimaniyah. Statistics revealed the issuance of over 40,000 residential and visitor permits, reflecting the local community's engagement and desire to regulate their residential environment. These measures have previously contributed to improving the urban landscape and significantly reducing instances of illegal parking.

Looking ahead, Riyadh Parking confirmed that this activation is part of a comprehensive strategic plan extending until 2026, which will cover a larger number of neighborhoods in central and eastern Riyadh, to ensure an organized and comfortable residential environment for all residents of the capital and its visitors.

The National Center for Meteorology issued its daily weather report for today (Friday) across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, indicating the continuation of the weather fluctuations characteristic of this time of year. The report included important warnings for residents of several regions, as the center predicted active winds stirring up dust and sand, which could lead to reduced horizontal visibility in parts of the Tabuk, Al-Jawf, and Northern Borders regions.

In a related context concerning weather phenomena affecting visibility, the center noted a high probability of fog formation during the early morning and late night hours. This forecast includes parts of the southern and southwestern highlands, specifically in the Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha regions, as well as the highlands of the Makkah region. The report also did not rule out the possibility of fog extending to parts of the Eastern Province, necessitating caution while driving on highways and open roads.

Red Sea conditions and wind patterns

Regarding the maritime situation, the National Center of Meteorology provided detailed information on surface wind patterns in the Red Sea. Northwesterly to northerly winds are expected in the northern and central parts of the sea, with speeds ranging from 10 to 25 km/h. These winds will shift significantly after midday, becoming southeasterly to easterly in the northern part, reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h. In the southern part of the Red Sea, winds will be southeasterly to southerly at speeds ranging from 15 to 35 km/h, potentially intensifying to 50 km/h, particularly towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This could affect maritime navigation for fishermen and other seafarers.

Geographical diversity and its impact on the Kingdom's climate

These forecasts are part of the ongoing monitoring conducted by the National Center for Meteorology to track climate changes in the Kingdom, which is characterized by a wide geographical diversity that directly impacts weather conditions. While northern regions such as Tabuk and Al-Jawf experience active surface winds that stir up dust due to their open desert nature, the mountainous regions in the south and west (Asir, Al-Baha, Taif) enjoy different climatic conditions that allow for cloud condensation and fog formation due to high humidity and lower temperatures at the mountain peaks.

The importance of weather warnings for public safety

These daily reports are of paramount importance both locally and in terms of public services, as traffic safety and road security authorities rely on them to regulate traffic and warn of potential hazards. The relevant authorities urge drivers in areas experiencing dust or fog to adhere to speed limits and use appropriate lighting to ensure their safety and the safety of others, especially given the rapid changes that can occur in weather conditions during such times.

In a strategic move aimed at accelerating digital transformation in Saudi Arabia, the General Authority for Real Estate announced the launch of the second version of its Regulatory Sandbox, a key initiative of the Saudi Protech Center (SPH). This step coincides with the adoption of the new regulatory framework and reflects the Authority's commitment to enabling technological innovation in the real estate sector and enhancing the market's readiness to embrace modern business models.

Within the context of digital transformation and the objectives of Vision
2030, this initiative gains particular importance. Vision 2030 aims to digitize government and private services and increase the real estate sector's contribution to non-oil GDP. Real estate technology (Proptech) is a key driver for increasing market efficiency, enhancing transparency, and streamlining the user journey, whether for investors or those seeking housing. The experimental environment serves as a safe incubator for testing these technologies before wider implementation, thus protecting the market from the potential risks of untested technologies.

What is a regulatory sandbox?
The authority explained that a regulatory sandbox provides a flexible space for technology companies and entrepreneurs, allowing them to test their innovative solutions under direct regulatory supervision. The testing period lasts for a defined timeframe, ranging from 6 to 24 months, during which the model is tested on a specific segment of customers. This mechanism aims to strike a delicate balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring compliance with regulations, thereby enhancing the protection of consumer rights and developing regulatory frameworks that keep pace with the future of technology.

work stages and targeted
pathways involve four main phases to ensure quality and reliability: the application phase, followed by a readiness assessment phase, then a practical testing phase based on precise performance indicators, culminating in the exit phase, which may be crowned by launching the model in the open market after fulfilling all regulatory requirements. The second edition focuses particularly on specific pathways, most notably the "fractional ownership model" within the real estate coding framework. This opens up broad horizons for investment and financing solutions that allow small investors to enter the real estate market, thus contributing to accelerating supply growth and enhancing asset efficiency.

The first
cohort of the regulatory sandbox witnessed remarkable success, comprising nine digital platforms that successfully tested and developed their models and are now officially offering their services to the public. These platforms include: Sahl, Jaz, Ghanem, Madak, Daroub, Nola, Hasiltak, Histak, and Usul Gama. These platforms serve as practical proof of the effectiveness of the sandbox in transforming innovative ideas into viable projects that contribute to the national economy.

In a call to innovators
, and at the end of its statement, the General Authority for Real Estate called on all technology companies and entrepreneurs wishing to benefit from this opportunity to register and view the details of the tracks and acceptance criteria through the official website of the Saudi Protech Center, noting that the door to submitting applications to join will remain open until April 30, 2026, which gives innovators enough time to develop their models and submit them.