An artist’s impression of the project to rehabilitate Wadi Sulay in Riyadh.

The Riyadh Municipality has launched a project to beautify and create flood-protection measures along Wadi Sulay, local media reported.

The aim is to use all excess water from the valley for agricultural and urban development purposes. The municipality plans to construct special rest and entertainment areas for local residents and visitors in partnership with private sector firms.

The municipality will undertake the project in phases, which involves opening up various waterways in the valley, followed by environmental and beautification projects.

There would be rain and flood-protection measures along the entire valley, which extends 176 km from the northwest of King Khalid International Airport to the south of Riyadh, ending up in Al-Kharj.

The municipality plans to build several bridges where the valley intersects major streets in the city including Dammam Road, Prince Saud bin Mohamed bin Maqran Road, Imam Abdullah bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Road, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Road, and Khurais Road.

Experts and officials say the environmental rehabilitation project is expected to be a model for the development of other valleys and floodplains across the country.