Your local park may soon offer more than green space. A coffee, an ice cream stop, or even a fitness session could become part of your regular visit. Saudi Arabia is considering new rules that would allow a range of businesses and community services inside public parks.
The size of the park would determine what can open there:
- Parks of 1,200 sqm: cafés, ice cream shops, fresh juice outlets, and flower retailers
- Parks of 1,500 sqm: shops selling fresh and preserved fruit and vegetables
- Parks of 5,000 sqm: fitness centres, entertainment venues, childcare facilities, non-residential senior citizen centres, and day-care services for people with disabilities
Before you start imagining your local park turning into a retail hub, there are a few rules in the plans. Businesses would be limited to 25% of the park’s total area, and buildings could be no taller than two storeys.
Nearby homes would also have to be taken into account, and businesses won’t be allowed to overlook residential properties.
For now, the changes are still under discussion. The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has published the draft regulations on the Istilaa platform for public consultation before any final decision is made.
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