The board of directors of King Abdullah Gardens has appointed Wahdan bin Sulaiman Al-Qadi as chief executive officer. The gardens are one of the largest environmental destinations in the region, combining plant diversity with nature-based and recreational experiences and strengthening Riyadh's profile as an eco-tourism destination.

Al-Qadi brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in strategy, investment, tourism, events and business development across the public and private sectors. His previous roles include CEO of the Events Investment Fund, executive director of the business sector at the Tourism Development Fund, CEO of Millennium Hotels and Resorts in Saudi Arabia, and vice president of investor relations at Zain telecommunications.

The appointment comes as the gardens prepare to develop an integrated destination bringing together nature, knowledge and entertainment for Riyadh residents and visitors, built around the concept of a 'living world' that renews people's connection with nature and gives visitors new reasons to explore and return.