Riyadh Allows Development on Endowed Lands to Accommodate Strategic Transformation

The Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh (RCRC) has lifted the suspension of development on large parts of endowed lands north of King Salman Road, as part of a series of measures aimed at helping the Saudi capital accommodate twice the current population by 2030.

The decision allows planning, development, sale, purchase and other services, provided that everything is compatible with the urban code of the city.

The commission said that Riyadh’s strategy is expected to put the capital among the top ten cities in the world in terms of economy, competitiveness and quality of life by 2030.

“Major developments in Riyadh require detailed planning in line with the urban sustainability code,” said Fahd bin Saleh, deputy chief executive officer (CEO) at RCRC.

“Therefore, the commission imposed a ban on the construction permits, in addition to the use of land plots including planning, development, sale, purchase, and delivery of all services to these land plots,” Saleh explained to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The Kingdom is keen on improving the housing experience in Riyadh, especially in the fast-growing districts. It, therefore, issued directives to eliminate random rapid urbanization in the long term, he noted.

The decision, allowing utilization of large areas in the north of Riyadh, aimed at developing the public facilities and services, in addition to boosting the attractiveness of the region.

It will also help accelerate the urbanization process, as development of the plots – which were earlier prohibited by the ban – is currently being studied.

More so, a specialized committee has been formed to look into land affairs and the RCRC has also created a call center to improve communication with the public.

The RCRC had on April 17 issued a decision allowing utilization of large areas in the north of King Salman Road in Riyadh.