Saudi Arabia to build world’s first non-profit city

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will build the world’s first non-profit city, the facto ruler Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman announced Sunday.
The city, designed in a model of for the development of the non-profit sector globally and an incubator for youth and volunteer groups as well as local and international non-profit institutions, will contribute to achieving the goals of Mohammed bin Salman Misk Foundation in supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and qualifying future leaders by defining non-profit work in its internal operational concept and in terms of opportunities and youth training programs it will provide, MbS said Sunday.
“The project will provide services that contribute to creating an attractive environment for all beneficiaries of the city’s offerings,” he added.
The futuristic non-profit city, will be located on land dedicated to the project by the crown prince in the Irqah neighborhood of Riyadh, adjacent to Wadi Hanifa, on an area of around 3.4 square kilometers, Arab News reports.
The city’s masterplan, the media notes, embodies a human-centered, advanced digital metropolis designed to be sustainable and pedestrian-friendly, and more than 44 percent of the total area will be allocated to green open spaces to promote sustainable development.
The new city also according to the Crown Prince will host academies, colleges, “Misk Schools,” a conference center, a science museum, and a creative centre offering a space to support the ambitions of innovators in sciences and new generation technology such as AI, IoT and robotics.
“It will also feature an arts academy and arts gallery, performing arts theater, play area, cooking academy and integrated residential complex. In addition, the city will host venture capital firms and investors to support and incubate innovative enterprises to drive community contributions from around the world,” he added. The project is reportedly in line with the Gulf country’s vision to create a vibrant Saudi youth talent system to shape the future of the Kingdom and the world by encouraging learning and developing leadership skills among youth.