SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi prince lays foundation stone for ongoing restoration of historic Wadi Hanifa

Record ID: 189288

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi prince lays foundation stone for ongoing restoration of historic Wadi Hanifa
  • Date: 29th December 2013
  • Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (DECEMBER 26, 2013) (REUTERS) NATURAL WATER COURSE IN THE WADI HANIFA VALLEY / COMMEMORATIVE STONE PLAQUE CONVOY OF SAUDI PRINCE KHALID BIN BANDAR BIN ABDULAZIZ AND DELEGATES ARRIVING / WATER COURSING IN FOREGROUND DELEGATION SEEN IN DISTANCE AS WATER COURSES THROUGH VALLEY FOUNDATION STRUCTURE OF NEW PROJECT TO DEVELOP WADI HANIFA INTO AN ENVIRONMENTAL PARK FOR THE PUBLIC VARIOUS OF PRINCE KHALID BIN BANDAR BIN ABDULAZIZ LAYING DOWN FOUNDATION STONE ONTO COMMEMORATIVE STRUCTURE / ONLOOKERS APPLAUD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI PRINCE, KHALID BIN BANDAR BIN ABDULAZIZ, SAYING: "What we have done today is to complete what was started in the past, to develop the Wadi Batha which meets Wadi Hanifa (Valley) near the factories district, as well as the expansion of the Wadi Namar Park. We wish success for this project, which seeks a specific goal and that is to be a site for relaxation and hiking for citizens and residents of the city of Riyadh." PRINCE AND DELEGATION TOURING SITE SIGN READING (English/ Arabic): "WADI HANIFAH. RUNNING WATER" VARIOUS OF RUNNING WATER AT WADI HANIFA DUCKS ON WATER IBRAHIM AL-SULTAN, HEAD OF PROJECTS AND PLANNING AT ARRIYADH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (ADA) DISCUSSING NEW PROJECT WITH PRINCE KHALID BIN BANDAR AND HIS DEPUTY PRINCE TURKI BIN ABDULLAH BIN ABDUL AZIZ (WHITE HEADDRESS AND BLACK CLOTHING), AS WELL AS OTHER DELEGATES PROJECT MAP IBRAHIM AL-SULTAN TALKING MAP WITH WORDS (Arabic): "WADI HANIFA" NEXT TO YELLOW LINE RUNNING ACROSS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF PROJECTS AND PLANNING AT ARRIYADH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (ADA), IBRAHIM AL-SULTAN, SAYING: "The part that has been rehabilitated from Wadi Hanifa is about 80 square kilometres. It includes rehabilitation to bring the valley back to what it was previously, from a stream to a torrent of water and revegetation and rebuilding the natural parks in the valley. There are now more than nine parks in the valley." TREES NEAR WATER COURSE THAT IS PART OF THE WADI NAMAR PARK ENVIRONMENTAL REHABILITATION PROJECT DUCK SWIMMING ACROSS WADI NAMAR STREAM VARIOUS LARGE BANNER WITH IMAGES OF WADI HANIFA BEFORE AND AFTER REHABILITATION PROJECT TWO PICTURES READING (Arabic): "BEFORE" AND THEN "AFTER" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF PROJECTS AND PLANNING AT THE ARRIYADH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (ADA), IBRAHIM AL-SULTAN, SAYING: "Thank God, we have got to this stage in terms of the condition of the valley. It has become an outlet for the city and helps to reduce pollution and to establish a bigger green patch in the area, with growing vegetation and landscaping in the city." DELEGATION STANDING TOGETHER AT WADI NAMAR PARK VARIOUS OF DUCKS SWIMMING ALONG IN VALLEY WATER
  • Embargoed: 13th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVAL7M2CJGR83O00YEKZDPOZKXD
  • Story Text: Saudi prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz lays the foundation stone for the next phase of the Wadi Hanifa restoration project, where work continues to return the historic valley to its original sate as an environmental resource.

    An extensive Saudi Arabian restoration project has seen the transformation of Wadi Hanifa valley from ruins to a popular retreat for residents and visitors.
    Viewed as a vital resource for the Saudi capital, Wadi Hanifa is the longest valley near Riyadh with a natural water course that is unique to the dry region, covering 4,000 square kilometres of the land.
    The Wadi Hanifa valley, located in the middle of the Najd Plateau, is inextricably linked to Saudi Arabian history.
    It was in Diriyah, on the west bank of Wadi Hanifa, that the ruling al-Saud family first rose to power over 200 years ago, making use of the natural course water and arable land.
    After an 1818 war that saw an Ottoman army crush Wahhabi fighters and burn Diriyah, the largest town of the central Arabian Peninsula, to the ground, the Saudi family and its followers trudged a few miles down the valley to resettle at Riyadh.
    The rapid growth of the Saudi capital led to Wadi Hanifa being badly exploited to satisfy the growing demand for water and mineral resources.
    But over the past decade, the Saudi government has invested heavily in a long term project that aims to restore the valley to its original state as an environmental resource and develop it into a tourist attraction.
    Riyadh governor, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, who is also the chairman of the High Commission for the Development of Riyadh, recently visited parts of the renovation project that have been completed.
    Joined by his deputy, Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and several other delegates, Prince Khalid bin Bandar lay the foundation stone for some of the new projects currently being launched in parts of the valley.
    "What we have done today is to complete what was started in the past, to develop the Wadi Batha which meets Wadi Hanifa (Valley) near the factories district, as well as the expansion of the Wadi Namar Park. We wish success for this project, which seeks a specific goal and that is to be a site for relaxation and hiking for citizens and residents of the city of Riyadh," the prince told journalists on Thursday (December 26).
    The prince also visited the development site of Wadi Batha, which is being turned into a recreational area, and a dam at Wadi Namar, where a new park is being created.
    The "Wadi Hanifa Comprehensive Environmental Rehabilitation Project" has overseen the safe removal of a reported half a million tonnes' worth of rubbish and construction waste that had been dumped into the valley.
    The project, which spans an area of around 80 kilometres in length, included the setting up of a new drainage system to absorb rain and floodwater, according to the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA).
    Ibrahim al-Sultan, head of projects and planning at the ADA, said the valley was home to several flourishing green spaces.
    "The part that has been rehabilitated from Wadi Hanifa is about 80 square kilometres. It includes rehabilitation to bring the valley back to what it was previously, from a stream to a torrent of water and revegetation and rebuilding the natural parks in the valley. There are now more than nine parks in the valley," said Al-Sultan.
    "Thank God, we have got to this stage in terms of the condition of the valley. It has become an outlet for the city and helps to reduce pollution and to establish a bigger green patch in the area, with growing vegetation and landscaping in the city," he added.
    The project has included the construction of a 43-kilometre road, extensive landscaping and the enhancement of agricultural land.
    Wadi Hanifa, which is open to the public, has grown increasingly popular as a weekend relaxation spot.
    The project has won a number of international environmental awards, including the 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
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