The world’s longest Sports Boulevard Park in Saudi Arabia has tendered the anticipated Wadi Hanifa road works. State-owned Sports Boulevard Foundation issued a tender inviting bids for a contract to build the project.
The bid submission deadline is 27 April. The scope includes construction of an 11.4-kilomerer road and associated infrastructure. These also entails public realm works, utilities and security systems. The scheme is the latest package to progress on Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard project. The utility is also evaluating bids for its Global Sports Tower in the development’s Athletic District.
The 130-meter-tall Global Sports Tower will have a gross floor area of 84,000 square meters. It will also include more than 30 sports facilities. The tower will feature what is billed as the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall, at 98 meters, and 250-meter running track.
Other Projects
Parks are becoming and always have been fundamental for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in an aim to improve standards of living in the nation. Other than the Sports Boulevard, it is also working on the Qiddiya Water Park.
The Qiddiya Water Theme Park has been set to be one of the key entertainment attractions located in the center of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. The location is also said to be the future capital of Entertainment, Culture, and Sports in the region. Once complete, the project is projected to cover 252,000 m² of land and will include 22 rides, of which 9 will be the first in the world.
Outlook on the World’s Longest Sports Boulevard Park in Saudi Arabia
The world’s longest Sports Boulevard Park will run across Riyadh from east to west. Once complete, it is intended to be the world’s longest park, stretching more than 135 kilometers. The project is divided into multiple districts, including the Wadi Hanifah, Arts, Urban Wadi, Entertainment, Athletics and Eco districts, as well as Sands Sports Park.
The large-scale development also aims to transform central Riyadh – currently dominated by major highways – into a recreational corridor. It will include 4.4 millon square meters of public realm and landmark buildings. Along with the Global Sports Tower, there will be a Center for Cinematic Arts and a 2,000-seat amphitheater.
It will also deliver more than 2.3 million sq m of mixed-use commercial, residential and retail space, alongside sports facilities, around the park, known as the Linear Park. The first phase of the Sports Boulevard, including portions like the Sands Sports Park, officially opened in February 2025, reaching roughly 40% overall completion
Project Factsheet
Project Name: Sports Boulevard Park – Wadi Hanifa Road Works
Location: Riyadh
Estimated Investment Value: Not disclosed (part of multi-billion masterplan)
Project Type: Urban park and infrastructure development
Timeline
April 2026: Tender issued for Wadi Hanifa road works
April 27, 2026: Bid submission deadline
2025: Phase 1 partially opened (~40% completion)
Completion: Not fully specified (phased delivery ongoing)
Site & Scale
Total Length: 135+ km (world’s longest park)
Wadi Hanifa Package: 11.4 km road works
Public Realm: ~4.4 million sq m
Mixed-Use Space: ~2.3 million sq m
Project Teams
Developer: Sports Boulevard Foundation
Client: Government of Saudi Arabia
Infrastructure Scope
11.4 km road and associated infrastructure works
Public realm, utilities, and security systems
Multiple districts including Sports, Arts, Entertainment, and Eco zones
Global Sports Tower (130 m, 84,000 sq m, 30+ sports facilities)
Supporting assets including amphitheater and cultural venues
Strategic Objectives
Transform Riyadh into a pedestrian-friendly urban corridor
Promote sports, health, and active lifestyles
Support urban regeneration and mixed-use development
Enhance tourism and quality of life
Challenges
Large-scale phased implementation
Coordination across multiple districts and contractors
Urban redevelopment within an existing highway-dominated city
Current Status
Tender issued for Wadi Hanifa works package
Evaluation ongoing for Global Sports Tower bids
Project also partially operational with Phase 1 delivered
