How far along is King Salman Park?
The park is being delivered in phases. Here is the status of every place by phase, with source dates so you can see how fresh each claim is.
as of 12 Nov 2026
The big picture
Each segment is sized by the number of places in that status.
- Under construction 31
- Planned 14
- Announced 8
- Completed 6
- Being replanned 1
- In design 1
The three phases
A phase sets the order of delivery, not necessarily an opening date.
Phase 1
2- Art ParkUnder constructionas of Sep 2026
- Phase 1 site-wide infrastructureUnder constructionas of Oct 2026
Phase 2
2- Loop and Boulevard bridgesUnder constructionas of Jan 2026
- Phase 2 infrastructureUnder constructionas of Nov 2025
Phase 3
1- Royal Golf CourseBeing replannedas of Sep 2026
What has been said about progress
Progress percentages come from different publishers and measures, so we show each with its source and date.
| Expected opening |
Initial phases late 2026; substantial completion 2027
MEEDSep 2026ArchDailyFeb 2026
ArchDaily, Feb 2026; not reconfirmed after the Sept 2026 MEED reports, and no date announced · as of Feb 2026
Low confidence
|
|---|---|
| Bridges in Phase 2 |
6 bridges (4 on the Loop, 2 on the Boulevard)
Freyssinet Saudi Arabia
Freyssinet project page · as of Jan 2026
Medium confidence
|
| Announced opening year |
2026 (announced July 2024)
Saudi Press AgencyJul 2024MEEDSep 2026
Target from the Saudi Museums Commission; not reconfirmed since and not met as of 12 Nov 2026 · as of Jul 2024
Medium confidence
|
| Handover to the Ministry of Culture |
Due within 3 to 6 months of 30 Sep 2026
MEEDSep 2026
MEED window, about Dec 2026 to Mar 2027; handover of operations, not a public opening · as of Sep 2026
Medium confidence
|
| Construction contracts awarded |
About 95% (Phases 1 and 2)
MEEDSep 2026
Share of Phase 1 and 2 construction contracts awarded, per the acting CEO as reported by MEED on 30 September 2026. Awarded is not built. · as of Sep 2026
About 93% (March 2026) Al Eqtisadiah
An earlier reading of the same measure in March 2026 coverage; consistent with progress to 95% by September. A secondary report that we did not read in full. · Mar 2026
Over 90% (2025) King Salman Park Founda…
The Foundation's 2025 brochure said over 90% of construction packages were under contract. · Jan 2025
|
Construction milestones
2019 plan: full completion reported as 2040
Arabic press coverage of the 2019 launch gave 2040 for full completion. Later official timelines do not repeat it and now point to 2027 for substantial completion and 2030 for full completion.
AjelMar 2019Planting season restarts: about 4 million plants this year
Landscaping restarts at 50,000 to 60,000 plants a day. A temporary water plant is producing about 50,000 cubic metres a day, and 95% of Phase 1 and 2 contracts are awarded.
MEEDSep 2026Smart operations and maintenance building reported complete
Sabq reported the 35,000 square metre building complete in June 2026. In September it became the Foundation's interim home inside the park.
MEEDSep 2026SabqJun 2026Retaining walls complete: 17 km of local stone
The Foundation announced the retaining walls finished: 17 kilometres, built with 122,500 tonnes of local Riyadh stone, shaping the wadis, hills and plateaus.
Al Madina (SPA)May 2026Phase 2 infrastructure works begin
Haif started roads, power, water, irrigation, sewage, stormwater and district cooling works for the second phase.
MEEDNov 2025Haif awarded Phase 2 infrastructure
MEED reported the award in July 2025 at about SAR 1.8bn (USD 480m). Freyssinet lists a larger SAR 3.2bn Phase 2 contract for the joint venture, so the two figures measure different things.
MEEDNov 2025Construction images show the Royal Arts Complex rising
ArchDaily published construction photographs of Bofill's complex: 13 structures totalling about 320,000 square metres.
ArchDailyMay 2025Early reporting: completion in 2024-25
Early reporting pointed to completion around 2024-25. That target was not met. Later timelines moved to a phased opening from late 2026 and substantial completion in 2027.
Oxford Business GroupRoyal Arts Complex reported 48% complete
A Foundation executive told MEED that structural works on the complex were done and construction was 48% complete. More than 13 million cubic metres of soil had been excavated.
MEEDMay 2024Water and sewage package: Al Bawani and Wetico selected
MEED reported the pair selected for the water treatment complex, a package worth over USD 500m.
guest.meed.comLandscaping contracts worth about USD 2.5bn
Nesma & Partners (about USD 2bn) and Al-Rashid (about USD 330m) won the landscaping and earthworks packages, the biggest planting job in the park's story.
MEEDJun 2023District cooling plant contract awarded to SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin received a 27-month EPC contract for the park's first district cooling plant, with an ultimate capacity of 60,000 refrigeration tonnes.
Trade ArabiaJun 2023Plan for the first infrastructure package: finish by March 2023
The contractor's profile gives 18 months from September 2021, so March 2023, for the site-wide infrastructure package. Phase 2 infrastructure followed in 2025.
Freyssinet Saudi ArabiaSep 2021Royal Arts Complex construction launched
The Foundation's board, chaired by the Crown Prince, launched construction on the Royal Arts Complex, more than 500,000 square metres with a museum, theatre, library, cinema and institute for traditional arts.
King Salman Park Founda…May 2022Modern Building Leaders selected for the Royal Arts Complex
MEED reported Modern Building Leaders as contractor for the complex, at about SAR 7.5bn (USD 2bn). Later reports quote a lower figure, so the value depends on the source and scope.
MEEDJun 2023Visitor Centre construction starts
The Foundation awarded the building contract to a national company and began work on the 90,000 square metre Visitor Centre, designed by David Adjaye with rammed-earth walls.
King Salman Park Founda…Jan 2022First major contracts: about USD 1bn (SAR 3.85bn)
The Foundation awarded SAR 3.847bn of work for site preparation, tunnels and bridges on Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and Al Urubah roads, and groundwork for the Royal Arts Complex. This marks the real start of construction.
King Salman Park Founda…Jan 2022Arab NewsSep 2021Site-wide infrastructure package begins
The Freyssinet and Haif joint venture reports starting the site-wide package in September 2021, covering about 13 square kilometres of roads, drainage, irrigation, power and data.
Freyssinet Saudi ArabiaSep 20212019 plan: construction to begin in the second half of 2019
At the launch, the Foundation said work on the four projects would start in the second half of 2019. Construction in fact began in the third quarter of 2021.
King Salman Park Founda…Mar 2019So, is it open?
What we know about opening and visiting, on one page.