Riyadh Region Municipality has completed work to rehabilitate and reopen the main channel of Wadi Al-Sulai, which runs 110 km from the north of Riyadh to its south, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The municipality described it as one of the capital's most important environmental rehabilitation projects, aimed at reviving a valley whose flow had been cut off for decades.

The project restored the valley to its natural course along with 21 tributaries, and the channel can now absorb up to 40% of Riyadh's rain and flood water. Works stretched from Banban in the north, through Al-Rimal district in the east, to the valley's outfall at Hit in the south.

The work included removing obstructions from the channel to protect residents, clearing more than 1.05 million cubic metres of material, excavating over 44.5 million cubic metres, placing 920 thousand cubic metres of stone protection and 479 thousand cubic metres of concrete, and cladding 42 thousand square metres of retaining walls.

The valley has been linked to the city's stormwater network through culverts, water structures and engineering works, to improve drainage in the east and northeast of the capital. It is one of Riyadh's main natural outfalls, receiving rain and flood water from an area of 2,400 square kilometres covering 75 neighbourhoods.

For residents of the affected districts, the project is intended to reduce the risk of water pooling and flooding during rainy spells, while turning the valley into an environmental and urban feature that supports sustainability and quality of life.