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Urban Code for Wadi Hanifah | Urban Section with Standard Setback | T4.2

Urban Code for Wadi Hanifah | Urban Section with Standard Setback | T4.2

17 April, 2025

Section T4.2 of the Wadi Hanifah Urban Code details the standards and regulations governing the design and development of land parcels within the Urban Section where Standard Setbacks are applied. This covers the permissible development patterns (including apartment buildings, attached villas, plotted units, and detached villas), the general provisions applicable to them, sidewalk design requirements, and the specific design guidelines related to this section, with regulations tailored for adherence to specified standard setbacks.

The Wadi Hanifah Urban Code – covering the wadi, its tributaries, and surrounding lands – is a comprehensive regulatory framework developed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC). Aligned with international best practice, the code defines a unified architectural identity and ensures that new development integrates seamlessly with the public realm. It sets clear, detailed standards for the design and execution of buildings, roads, sidewalks, landscaping, and construction methods throughout the wadi corridor and adjacent lands.

The Code guides the urban fabric and building façades while offering design options that align new development with the area’s natural setting and heritage – particularly in Diriyah and its environs. By promoting traditional features such as the fina’ (internal courtyard), it encourages development patterns that enhance quality of life, reinforce local identity, provide privacy, and improve space efficiency.