Royal Commission for Riyadh City Awards Cooling Riyadh Project Consultancy Contract to PLANET S.A.
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has awarded the consultancy contract for the “Cooling Riyadh Project” to PLANET S.A., an international engineering and urban planning consultancy firm. The project is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plans to improve environmental sustainability and urban living standards in Riyadh.
The Cooling Riyadh Project aims to reduce temperatures across the city by introducing modern cooling solutions, increasing green areas, improving urban design, and reducing the urban heat island effect. Riyadh is one of the hottest cities in the world, especially during summer, where temperatures can exceed 50°C. The project is expected to improve public comfort, reduce electricity consumption, and support sustainable urban development.
PLANET S.A. will work as the main consultancy company for the project. The company specializes in infrastructure planning, environmental engineering, and sustainable urban development. Their responsibilities include preparing studies, designing cooling strategies, selecting pilot districts, and developing technical frameworks for implementation.
The project is expected to begin with planning and thermal studies during 2026. Pilot districts are likely to be selected later in the year, followed by implementation planning in 2027. Large-scale construction and infrastructure work may begin from 2027 onwards. The project will initially focus on selected districts in Riyadh before expanding citywide in future phases.
The Cooling Riyadh Project is expected to create major opportunities for contractors, suppliers, and heavy equipment companies. Future work packages may include road modifications, landscaping, irrigation systems, utility infrastructure, district cooling systems, reflective pavements, and green corridor development.
Heavy equipment demand is expected to increase significantly during the implementation stages. Equipment likely to be required includes excavators, loaders, rollers, asphalt pavers, telehandlers, cranes, water tankers, skid steers, compactors, and trenching equipment. Landscaping and irrigation works will also create strong demand for mini excavators, water bowsers, and soil handling machinery.
Companies interested in securing heavy equipment business should focus on registering with major Saudi project procurement systems and building relationships with EPC contractors and subcontractors likely to participate in the project. Many Saudi mega projects operate through subcontracting layers, where equipment rental companies usually work directly with construction contractors rather than government authorities.
To increase business opportunities, equipment suppliers should provide operators, maintenance support, safety certifications, and fast mobilization capabilities. Saudi infrastructure projects prefer suppliers that can offer complete rental solutions including equipment, manpower, maintenance, and logistics support.
The project may become one of the world’s largest urban cooling initiatives and could serve as a model for future climate adaptation projects across the Gulf region. For heavy equipment businesses, this represents a long-term opportunity as Riyadh continues to invest in green infrastructure, urban development, and sustainable construction under Vision 2030.