There is no doubt that the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) has established itself as one of the Kingdom’s most compelling urban developments. As Saudi Arabia’s financial centre and the world’s largest LEED Platinum-certified mixed-use business district, KAFD has consistently demonstrated how design and purpose, combined at scale, can create environments that are not only striking in presence but effective in practice and performance.

From its record-breaking pedestrian skyway network to climate-responsive landscape systems that sustainably reduce water consumption, the district balances innovation with practicality while setting a high standard for contemporary urban development.

This trajectory is now marked by a notable accolade. The 1.06 Building carpark at KAFD has achieved Parksmart Gold Certification: the highest level of recognition under the international Parksmart standard, the first Parksmart-certified project in Saudi Arabia, and the largest Parksmart Gold-certified development in the Middle East.

The certification recognises the parking facility’s alignment with the highest international standards for smart and sustainable mobility within a district spanning 1.6 million square metres. It focuses specifically on parking and movement, assessing forward-thinking and sustainable practices across management, operational programmes, and technology-driven design.

In a district of KAFD’s scale, comprising 95 buildings, parking is a fundamental component of daily functionality, not an auxiliary service. Rather than operating in isolation, the 1.06 Building’s parking facility forms part of a coordinated district-wide approach to movement, resulting in smoother traffic flow, clearer and safer user experiences, and measurable reductions in congestion and emissions.

Dar is proud to have contributed to this achievement through its construction supervision services for the 1.06 Building carpark, ensuring that design intent, operational efficiency, and sustainability targets were consistently upheld throughout delivery. This contribution forms part of Dar’s broader involvement at KAFD, supporting the district through multi-disciplinary engineering services mainly in infrastructure and construction supervision.