Editing Riyadh (section)

==== 2000s–2010s ====
The MEDSTAR (metropolitan development strategy for Arriyadh) was the strategy that directed urban development in this era. Since the SCET plan also turned out to underestimate the rate of growth, a continuous approach instead of a one-off plan was adopted. The MEDSTAR was not a long term plan but an ongoing strategy on managing urban growth and economic development in the city. It was initiated after comprehensive studies by the Arriyadh Development Authority (the high commission's research wing) on demographics, land use, transportation, security, environment, and traffic safety. In 2007, MEDSTAR won second place in the international award for liveable communities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Livcom Awards : 2007 Results |url=https://livcomawards.com/previous-winners/2007-results.htm |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=livcomawards.com}}</ref> One of the MEDSTAR strategies was balanced development by turning Riyadh into a polycentric city rather than having one single downtown. [Riyadh: The Metamorphosis of a City From Centerless to Polycentric Fernando Perez,] This has resulted in there being multiple hubs scattered around the city such as Olaya, [[King Abdullah Financial District|KAFD]], Sahafa, Granada, Business Gate, Digital City, and Hittin.

Riyadh's skyline arose along the King Fahd Road starting in the 2000s. Significant construction projects like the Riyadh metro and the [[Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University|Princess Noura University]], the world's largest women's university, were undertaken. Most malls and hypermarkets opened in this era and became a feature of city life. The municipality added wide sidewalks to a number of streets which became popular spots for walking, and parks were built in many neighborhoods. Major roads were redesigned, such as the King Fahd road, King Abdullah Road, Abu Bakr Al Siddiq road, and Oruba road, transforming the look of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Project. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.idom.com/en/project/road-riyadh-abi-bakr/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=IDOM |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition, the Royal Commission rehabilitated the [[Wadi Hanifa]] wetlands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-16 |title=Wadi Hanifah Comprehensive Development Plan {{!}} Landscape Performance Series |url=https://www.landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/wadi-hanifah-comprehensive-development-plan |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=www.landscapeperformance.org |language=en}}</ref>

At the onset of the 2020s, Riyadh's expansion had gone further ahead of the King Salman Road in the north and had reached the Janadriyah road in the east.