Construction on King Abdullah Gardens (KAGA), located in Tuwaiq District, west of Riyadh, is advancing rapidly with major structural elements and key facilities of this mega botanical garden already completed.
KAGA is one of Riyadh’s most prominent environmental and sustainability projects spanning over 2 million sq m, which positions it among the world’s three largest covered botanical gardens. It is also claimed to be the world’s first and only garden that represents various historical eras through its plants.
Initiated in 2014 under the late King Abdullah, the development is set within the arid desert. Paleobotanical gardens will be created within two interlocking, crescent-shaped biomes, which will be the centrepiece of King Abdullah Gardens.
The biomes will comprise 89,000 sq m of climate-controlled environments and showcase the evolution of plant life on the Arabian Peninsula. The roof of the 40-m-high crescent-shaped gardens will have a span of up to 90 m and will be one of the world’s largest tensile fabric-covered structures, featuring ETFE, a high-quality, transparent material that allows light penetration.
KAGA will comprise multiple botanical gardens divided into indoor and outdoor sections. These include seven indoor gardens representing Devonian (416 million years ago), Carboniferous (300 million years), Jurassic (199.6 million years), Cretaceous (145.5 million years), Cenozoic (65.5 million years), Pliocene (5.3 million years), and modern-era plants. Outdoor areas include interactive zones, such as Maze Garden, Butterflies Garden, and Wadi.
The project focuses on expanding Riyadh’s green spaces, integrating diverse landscapes such as water, desert, and floral gardens, plus habitats for birds and reptiles. Additional features include a botanical museum and a gene bank.
KAGA also offers dedicated areas for children, integrated recreational facilities, such as a valley promenade, observation towers, and event spaces. These are complemented by cafés, markets, and playgrounds, creating a comprehensive environment that encourages visitor engagement with nature.
International architectural and engineering consultancy Omrania assisted Riyadh Municipality in managing the project and site supervision, including design evaluation and review, budgeting, scheduling, and review and compilation of tender documents.
KAGA aligns with Riyadh’s sustainable urban development goals, blending environmental, cultural, and educational elements to improve quality of life. No specific completion date has been confirmed for the projec in recent updates.