Yokogawa’s Digital Backbone for a Sustainable and Green Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s Green Riyadh initiative is one of the most ambitious urban greening programmes on the planet, aiming to reshape the capital into a healthier, cooler, and more liveable metropolis by 2030.
With a sweeping goal to plant 7.5 million trees and dramatically increase green space per person, this flagship project forms a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030’s drive to build sustainable, world-leading cities.
Playing a central role in delivering this bold vision, Yokogawa Saudi Arabia, a subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, has secured a significant contract from the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. The company will design and implement advanced digital systems for the project’s main command and control centre, serving as the technological hub for monitoring, managing, and optimising Riyadh’s green transformation.
A Greener Riyadh by Design
Green Riyadh is more than tree-planting. It is a sophisticated urban evolution designed to:
- Increase per-capita green space from 1.7 to 28 square metres
- Plant trees across parks, roads, healthcare facilities, and public spaces
- Cool the city and combat the urban heat island effect
- Improve air quality and reduce energy consumption
- Enhance residents’ quality of life
- Irrigate greenery using treated wastewater
Rather than relying on traditional landscaping methods, this programme will use advanced infrastructure, smart irrigation, and precision resource management to ensure long-term sustainability. The use of treated wastewater, for example, signals a strategic commitment to circular water systems and resource-efficient development.
Smart Control for a Smart City
Yokogawa will supply a unified digital platform to power the command and control centre. The system will harness the company’s OpreX Collaborative Information Server and OpreX Intelligent Manufacturing Hub to consolidate data from environmental sensors, weather systems, and operational networks.
The result will be real-time visibility across the city’s green assets and critical utilities. This platform is designed to:
- Track environmental conditions continuously
- Support predictive analytics to optimise irrigation
- Monitor and manage lighting and utilities in public green spaces
- Ensure efficient water use at scale
- Provide decision-makers with unified dashboards and instant alerts
Crucially, the system has been engineered for scalability, positioning it to support wider smart city applications and future phases of Green Riyadh.
Digital Innovation Meets Urban Regeneration
Kunimasa Shigeno, President and CEO of Yokogawa Electric, emphasised the strategic synergy between the project and the company’s technology philosophy: “We are proud to be entrusted to work on such a large-scale urban transformation project. This project aligns with Yokogawa’s goal to deliver synergies and new value through the system of systems approach, in which independently operated and managed systems are connected to form a larger system. We look forward to contributing to similar initiatives in the region and globally.”
That sentiment reflects a growing movement across the Middle East to embrace smart technology, renewable resources, and nature-based solutions to combat climate challenges. Riyadh’s greening strategy shares synergy with parallel giga-projects such as NEOM’s regenerative approach to urban planning and the Saudi Green Initiative.
Yokogawa’s Global Legacy in Smart Environments
With roots dating back to 1915 in Tokyo and a network spanning 128 companies in 62 countries, Yokogawa has earned its reputation in advanced measurement, control, and information technologies. Employing more than 17,000 people, the company serves key industries ranging from energy to pharmaceuticals.
Its contribution to Green Riyadh reflects its wider mission to enable autonomous operations, digital transformation, and sustainable industrial ecosystems. Yokogawa’s work often sits at the intersection of data intelligence and environmental stewardship, positioning it as an enabler of next-generation smart cities worldwide.
A Blueprint for Sustainable Urban Futures
Green Riyadh has the potential to set global benchmarks for climate-resilient urban development. By combining large-scale afforestation with a powerful digital backbone, the programme demonstrates how forward-thinking cities can:
- Use nature-based design to improve public health
- Harness treated wastewater and advanced irrigation to conserve resources
- Employ real-time analytics to enhance operational efficiency
- Align infrastructure growth with environmental ambition
Industry observers are already watching closely. Multiple studies, including research published by the World Bank and UNEP, highlight urban greening as a key strategy for mitigating extreme heat and improving quality of life in rapidly expanding cities.
Riyadh’s programme, backed by deep state commitment and cutting-edge technology, may soon be viewed as a model for emerging megacities across the Global South.
Towards a Greener Tomorrow
The collaboration between Yokogawa and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City underscores a bigger story unfolding in the Gulf: a pivot towards sustainable living supported by intelligent infrastructure. It signals a future where greenery and smart systems sit at the heart of modern urban development.
With Riyadh poised to transform into a greener, healthier, and more vibrant capital, Yokogawa’s integrated technology platform will help ensure this decade-long initiative not only succeeds but thrives as a future-proof blueprint for cities worldwide.
Growing Momentum
By combining environmental ambition with digital precision, Saudi Arabia is demonstrating how transformative and data-driven urban planning can unlock healthier futures. As Riyadh’s tree canopy rises and heat levels fall, the city’s residents stand to gain cleaner air, cooler streets, and more accessible parks.
This project is not just planting trees. It is planting the seeds of a smarter, greener, and more resilient world.
