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Saudi Crown Prince Launches 'Ardara' with Development of AlWadi in Abha as Flagship Project

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Launches 'Ardara' with Development of AlWadi in Abha as Flagship Project

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced on Monday the launch of “Ardara,” which will develop AlWadi in the Aseer region in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

This will be the company’s first development and will become a vibrant urban center and tourist destination for both local and international visitors, in line with Vision 2030.

Inspired by the distinctive Aseer architectural style and rich historic heritage, AlWadi – meaning “the valley”– will span 2.5 million square meters and will be developed with sustainability at its core. It will enhance quality of life by dedicating over 30% of the project's area as green open spaces, with over 16 km of waterfront extending across the length of the project, and 17 km of sport trails, as well as cultural and community activities.

AlWadi will feature five distinct districts offering unique experiences, with a range of residential, hospitality and recreation options to be provided with phase one of the project over the next three years. This will include 2,000 residential options in the form of modern high-end apartments and villas, luxury hotels, commercial spaces and business spaces designed in accordance with the highest international standards and in harmony with the region's identity and history.

Ardara aims to provide investment and partnership opportunities for local and international investors across a range of sectors including hospitality, arts, culture, food and agriculture, as well as retail and entertainment, to further strengthen the partnership with the private sector.

The launch of Ardara aligns with PIF’s strategy to unlock the capabilities of promising sectors, including tourism and entertainment, and diversify the economy of Saudi Arabia.

The AlWadi flagship destination is set to contribute more than SAR19 billion to the country’s non-oil GDP by 2030, creating thousands of jobs for the region's local communities. It will contribute to the objectives of the Aseer Development Strategy; “Arabian Highland” announced by the Crown Prince in 2021.

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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.