Jockey Club

Location: Riyadh
Built-up Area: 102,258 sq. ft.
Services Provided: Landscape Architecture
Client: Jockey Club
Construction Cost: 25,000,000$

Challenge

The Saudi Arabian Jockey Club project required the creation of a distinguished landscape environment capable of elevating horse racing into a globally competitive destination experience while preserving its deep cultural roots within Saudi Arabia. The challenge lay in designing an expansive outdoor setting that could accommodate international-scale race day events while expressing the prestige, heritage, and ceremonial character associated with Saudi equestrian tradition. Beyond functionality, the project needed to transform the venue into an immersive destination where movement, gathering, spectacle, and cultural identity coexist seamlessly. Achieving this demanded a landscape strategy that balances visitor experience, circulation efficiency, and visual grandeur, while creating a cohesive identity that resonates equally with local audiences and international guests.

Approach

Dar Al Omran (DAO) approached the project through an integrated landscape-led design methodology that combines landscape architecture, urban design, and graphic placemaking into one unified experiential framework. The masterplan was conceived as a layered spatial narrative, where open spaces, ceremonial arrival sequences, viewing zones, and pedestrian promenades are carefully choreographed to enhance the emotional rhythm of race day. The design draws inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s natural terrain, equestrian heritage, and cultural motifs, translating these into contemporary landscape expressions that blend authenticity with elegance. Native planting palettes, shaded circulation routes, and structured gathering areas were strategically integrated to improve environmental comfort while reinforcing local identity. Urban design elements establish clear spatial hierarchy and intuitive navigation, while graphic interventions enrich wayfinding and branding continuity across the site. Through this approach, the landscape becomes more than a setting, it becomes a defining component of the event itself, shaping memory, atmosphere, and prestige.

Impact

The project transforms the Saudi Arabian Jockey Club into a landmark destination that redefines the race day experience as both a cultural celebration and an international sporting event. By elevating the quality and identity of the public realm, the development enhances visitor engagement, strengthens the venue’s global competitiveness, and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position on the international equestrian stage. The landscape framework creates a memorable and immersive environment that reflects national heritage while meeting the expectations of world-class event standards. Beyond its functional success, the project establishes a new benchmark for hospitality-driven sporting landscapes in the Kingdom, demonstrating how culturally grounded design can amplify both global appeal and local authenticity.