Saudi Arabia launches private partner search for 50 public parks project

Saudi Arabia launches private partner search for 50 public parks project

Saudi Arabia has launched a private partner search for a major public parks programme covering 50 parks across three regions, with the project to be delivered under a 15-year rehabilitate, operate, maintain and transfer model. The move shows how the kingdom is increasingly using public-private partnerships to upgrade civic assets, improve urban liveability and bring private-sector operational discipline into municipal infrastructure.

Project overview

The project covers 50 public parks across the Eastern Province, Jeddah and Madinah. It will be delivered under a 15-year ROMT framework, which means the winning private partner will rehabilitate the parks, operate them, maintain them and eventually transfer them back at the end of the contract period.

The scope is broad and goes well beyond simple landscaping. It includes rehabilitation of park infrastructure, green spaces, utilities and recreational areas, along with operations and maintenance services such as landscaping, cleaning, pest control and quality assurance. The project also includes commercial facilities and the procurement, supply and maintenance of equipment needed to keep the parks functioning properly.

Delivery partners and key stakeholders

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing is leading the programme, working with the National Center for Privatisation and PPP. Together, they are using the PPP model to attract private-sector investment and long-term operational expertise into the public parks sector.

The private sector partner will be the main delivery and operations counterparty under the ROMT contract. That partner will need to combine civil works, horticultural management, facilities operations and customer-facing public-space management. In other words, this is not just a maintenance contract; it is a long-term place-management role.

The three regions involved are important because they include some of the kingdom’s most active urban and social environments. Parks in these locations are not only recreational assets, but also part of wider quality-of-life and urban identity strategies. That gives the project a public-value dimension that goes well beyond routine asset upkeep.

Construction and technical details

This is a rehabilitation-led project rather than a full new-build park programme. That means the first phase of delivery is likely to involve asset assessment, repair, upgrades, utilities renewal, hardscape works and landscape improvement. Existing parks may have varying conditions, so the delivery team will probably need a flexible approach rather than a one-size-fits-all package.

The operational side is just as important as the construction side. The private partner will be responsible for cleaning, pest control, landscaping quality and ongoing maintenance, which means performance standards will need to be monitored closely over the full contract term. Commercial facilities also add another layer of complexity because they require active management, commercial judgement and integration with the wider park environment.

The 15-year duration is significant because it gives the private partner enough time to justify upfront investment while also making long-term maintenance standards a core part of the business model. That is one of the biggest advantages of the ROMT structure: it forces the operator to think about durability, user experience and lifecycle value rather than simply short-term delivery.

Timeline

- The EOI and RFQ phase has now been launched.

- The procurement is being run under a 15-year ROMT model.

- Qualification and bidding will determine which private partners move forward.

- Rehabilitation and operations will follow once the contract is awarded.

- Transfer of the assets will take place at the end of the concession period.

The wider direction of travel is clear. Saudi Arabia has already been expanding its parks and green-space footprint through private-sector investment models, and this project continues that momentum. It fits with the kingdom’s broader push to improve liveability, public amenities and urban experience across its cities.

Strategic importance

This project matters because public parks are becoming a more strategic asset class in Saudi Arabia. They are no longer treated as passive municipal spaces. Instead, they are being positioned as active urban platforms that can combine recreation, culture, commercial activity and long-term social value.

The move also reflects the country’s growing confidence in PPP delivery models. By bringing in private operators, the government can spread capital risk, improve maintenance standards and unlock efficiencies that are difficult to achieve through traditional public delivery alone. That is especially relevant in sectors like parks, where operational quality often matters more than the initial build.

For the construction and landscaping market, this opens a different kind of opportunity. Instead of a single build contract, the project creates a multi-year pipeline across rehabilitation works, utilities, equipment supply, maintenance, and ongoing operational services. That makes it attractive not only to contractors, but also to landscape firms, facilities operators and specialist service providers.

Writer’s opinion

This is exactly the kind of project that shows how Saudi Arabia is evolving beyond headline megaprojects. Huge stadiums, giga-projects and landmark districts get most of the attention, but the quiet transformation of civic infrastructure can have just as much impact on everyday urban life. Parks are where that becomes visible to residents in a very direct way.

What stands out most is the ROMT structure. It is a smart model for parks because it aligns the operator’s incentives with long-term quality. If the private partner has to maintain and operate the parks for 15 years, it will be rewarded for doing the job properly rather than just completing the initial rehabilitation quickly.

There is also a broader urban message here. Quality public space is becoming part of Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness as a place to live, invest and spend time. That means park projects like this are not minor municipal works; they are part of a much bigger social and economic shift in how cities are being shaped.