Preliminary work is under way on the SR6 billion ($1.59 billion) Riyadh View, which is considered to be the first and largest residential project of its kind to be developed by the private sector in the kingdom.

Being developed by Dar Al Arkan Company for Real Estate Development, the mega project will comprise 8,000 residential villas in various sizes designed to meet to the requirements of mid-income citizens.
Earmarked for a 5 million sq m plot in Al Amariyah area – about 4 km from the North Ring Road in Riyadh on Salbukh Highway, the self-contained residential city is scheduled for completion within 24 months following final approvals from the authorities.
The launch of Riyadh View marks the initiation of phase two of Dar Al Arkan’s ambitious plan, which envisages the construction of 65,000 residential units over the next five years, says Saud Al Qaseer, general manager of Dar Al Arkan.
The company launched the first phase last year, which targets the construction of 6,000 residential units in Al Qasr and Eshbeelya Villas in Riyadh, Tilal Hills in Madinah, Al Abrar in Makkah and the Golden Beach in Jeddah, he adds.
Turner International is the project manager on the project while Cluttons is the marketing consultant, both of which contributed towards the site selection and design of the development.
Riyadh View is located in the emerging urban corridor of Riyadh and boasts a unique elevated location close to the Dir’iyah Precinct, which is a key area being developed by the government.
The project is designed to meet the highest international standards for residential neighbourhoods and focuses on cost effectiveness without compromising on quality. Care has also been taken to respect the social characteristics of the Saudi community and provide a healthy and secure environment for its residents.
Riyadh View will also include commercial facilities such as a major shopping mall to complement and serve the complex and the neighbouring areas, as well as another smaller one that will be operated exclusively for the residents.
A key criterion for the designers was to ensure a segregation of pedestrian movement, vehicular traffic and car-parking facilities, with every effort exerted to ensure the safety of pedestrians and that the roads remain free of congestions while allocating adequate space for car parking.
“For a better socially bonded community, we have departed from the grid layout and have laid out the residential plan around four spheres:
Individual houses, which are private and secluded;
Semi-detached residences, with are grouped in configurations of up to eight units in one cluster;
Sectional cluster which are semi public;
The neighbourhood, which is a public area points out Al Qaseer.
“These spheres allow limited access from one residential area to another, unlike the grid plan, where private residences open directly onto the street that is accessible by everyone. This design plan heightens the safety and security of the complex, keeping strangers away while enhancing the opportunities for social bonding between neighbours,” he adds.

Recreational & sports facilities
“Our design plan for the Riyadh View allocates extensive areas for sports and recreational facilities, which includes a club and an equestrian track for training, a sports club, a health centre and a cultural centre, in addition to other large areas dedicated to varied sport courts for football, basketball and volleyball.
“A large area of land to the west of the site behind the shopping mall, has been assigned for an integrated recreation city where the residents and their families can spend some quality time, adds Al Qaseer.

Integrated services
Dal Al-Arkan’s real estate development is expected to offer all the benefits of a planned community with an array of commercial and beneficial services. This has been done especially with due regard to the fact that the area is close to Dir’iyah which hosts the most important government departments of passports, traffic, telecom and electricity. The company has provided the following services in the neighbourhood:
• A shopping mall that serves both the neighbourhood and adjacent areas;
• A smaller shopping mall within the neighbourhood for the exclusive use of the local residents;
• Commercial areas that provide basic services for the internal clusters;
• Recreation and amusement areas;
• A main park which is easily accessible from all corners of the neighbourhood;
• Smaller gardens distributed all over the area clusters;
• A sports club, an equestrian club, a cultural centre and a health club;
• Dedicated areas for mosques, educational services, a police station and a civil defence centre.

Landscaping
Aesthetically-appealing landscaping and a green environment feature prominently in the Riyadh View residential project. Green spaces are provided in the vicinity of each residential unit, with a larger surface allocated for each residential cluster. In addition, there is a large park dedicated for each neighbourhood, which is easily accessible by foot from any location within the unit.
“Dar Al Arkan is also seeking private and public investors and invites them to enhance the facilities within this mega residential project, which boosts the state’s growth and development while providing a dream home for Saudi Arabia’s middle-class citizens,” concludes Al Qaseer.
Dar Al Arkan, which has more than 17 projects in various locations in the region, enjoys a credit rating of Class 8 given by Capital Intelligence – an international credit rating agency, placing it among the stable global companies.