RIYADH – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman launched multibillion riyal development projects at a ceremony held at Qasr Al-Hakam in Riyadh on Wednesday evening. The King inaugurated as well as laid the foundation stone for as many as 1,281 projects costing a total of SR82 billion in Riyadh city and in various governorates of the region. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, Prince Sultan Bin Salman, chairman of the board of the Saudi Space Authority, and Prince Rakan Bin Salman also attended the ceremony. Upon arrival at the headquarters of Qasr Al-Hakam, the King was received by Riyadh Emir Prince Faisal Bin Bandar, Deputy Emir of Riyadh Muhammad Bin Abdurahman, and Minister of Interior Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Saud Bin Naif. The Monarch then watched an exhibition titled "Salman and Riyadh," which was organized in the lobby of the palace on this occasion. The exhibition showcases a collection of pictures pertaining to the biography and the achievements of King Salman while leading the Riyadh region as its emir. The King attended the traditional Ardha dance performance after the launching ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Prince Faisal Bin Bandar said that the Kingdom, under King Salman, is witnessing a glorious era featuring a boom in development with enormous projects and realizing a Vision that is shaping the future of the nation and its people. "Under your wise leadership and with the support of the Crown Prince and under the umbrella of the ambitious Vision 2030, the Kingdom's position is being strengthened by investing its vast potential and capabilities in order to realize a promising future," he said. The emir said that the new projects cover all development sectors in various governorates of the Riyadh region. The King inaugurated 921 projects costing SR52.3 billion and laid the foundation stone for 360 projects worth SR29.8 billion. These projects include seven medical cities and hospitals, scores of educational projects and sports cities, several recreational facilities, parks, 15 housing projects, and the largest museum in Riyadh. The projects for which the King laid the corner stone include the following: Ministry of the National Guard- completion of housing projects of the military personnel; Ministry of Education - 63 educational projects covering all regions including universities, colleges and educational complexes for boys and girls; Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affairs -216 projects in all governorates of the region including roads and flood water drainages, as well as gardens, parks and municipal building projects; General Authority of Civil Aviation - project for the development of lounges at King Khalid International Airport; Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture -16 projects for purification and treatment plants, water and sewage systems, water reservoirs, project to establish the Directorate of Agriculture in Dawadmi, and desalinated water transport system from Jubail to Riyadh (4 parts); Ministry of Interior - project of the ministry's medical complex in Riyadh and 21 projects for the development of security headquarters in all governorates of the region; Arriyadh Development Authority -two environmental projects and a project to bring down water level in Riyadh city; General Authority of Sports - development of sports city complex; Saudi Red Crescent Authority -establishment of ambulance center in Riyadh and Ramah governorate; Ministry of Media- project to construct a building for Al-Ekhbariya channel and a project to modernize the television studio at Riyadh TV Center; Ministry of Transport- 11 projects covering all parts of the region including intersections, roads and lighting works; Ministry of Housing -5 projects to develop land and infrastructure in various governorates; Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources: project to establish SABIC Specialist Hospital for Mental Health and construction of the SABIC Museum; and MODON - 6 projects for the development of industrial cities and the establishment of model factories.
