KAFD Conference Center: An Architectural Landmark in Riyadh

Dec 17, 2024

KAFD stands for King Abdullah Financial District, a major urban development in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was designed and built to make King Abdullah's vision of creating a new financial district in the capital city a reality that will pave the way for economic growth.

The acquisition of KAFD by the PIF (Public Investment Fund) of Saudi Arabia has upgraded it to become one of the prime business hubs and lifestyle destinations in Riyadh that embraces all the core values of Vision 2030.

Today, King Abdullah Financial District contributes to the growth and diversification of the economy with a vibrant and unique experience in the heart of Riyadh. It truly is a sight to see and behold with a competitive professional landscape in the midst of iconic architectural landmarks that have redefined Riyadh’s skyline.

KAFD offers a unique approach to business, work, and lifestyle experiences. It incorporates advanced office infrastructure and sustainable smart city solutions while upgrading residential facilities with leading leisure and retail convenience.

Designed by World Class Architects

The King Abdullah Financial District is designed and developed by world-class architects, including Omrania & Associates, HOK, SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill), and Henning Larsen Architects.

KAFD’s architecture is inspired by innovative and futuristic concepts emphasizing sustainability and functionality without compromising aesthetic appeal. This collaborative architectural diversity and avant-garde designs throughout the district have made KAFD a symbol of Riyadh's modernization initiatives.

The KAFD Conference Center is one of the largest and most modern conference venues in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, covering an area of 28,000 sqm, including a 600-seater auditorium.

The Key Landmarks in KAFD

KAFD Conference Center

Designed to keep up with the Saudi Arabia desert landscape, the KAFD conference center is expansive, with an area encompassing 28,000 square metres. It is also the largest conference centre and event space in Riyadh.

The Wadi

This is an open public space that is 5.5 metres below street level. It is in an area with heavy foot traffic, making it ideal for pop-up activations or unique retail offerings.

KAFD Grand Mosque

This iconic landmark was inspired by the desert rose native to the Arabian Peninsula. The Grand Mosque features a unique geometric structure with no columns holding up the roof.

PIF Tower

Inspired by the crystals found in the wadis of Saudi Arabia, the PIF Tower is the tallest building in Riyadh, at 385m.

The Financial Plaza

The Financial Plaza is a dedicated business sector within KAFD, offering 500K square metres of premium office spaces. It is defined by six of the tallest and most iconic towers in the district.

About KAFD Conference Center

Serving as the centerpiece of the King Abdullah Financial District, the conference center is an iconic landmark that reflects the country's desert landscape. It is impressively defined by a bold structure featuring an organic faceted profile that connects the building to the surrounding terrain.

The KAFD conference center has incorporated cutting-edge design with dramatic components made possible by inventive engineering solutions. It covers an area of 28,000 sqm and is also noted as one of the largest conference centers in Riyadh.

This state-of-the-art and column-free building has multipurpose venues and includes a 600-seat auditorium featuring full lecture and cinema support, a banquet hall, versatile executive boardrooms, several outdoor plazas, and striking vertical gardens.

Blending functionality with aesthetic excellence, this iconic landmark in KAFD is both a visual attraction and a seamless extension of the angular desert landscape.

Located in a prime location in the heart of Riyadh’s Financial district, the KAFD conference center features futuristic design and functionality concepts, further establishing the city’s reputation as a global business hub.

A Venue Designed For The Digital Age

The master plan behind this conference center includes nearly 1,300,000 square feet of conference facilities, restaurants, an elevated public concourse, and a monorail station.

It is strategically designed to offer a new standard for flexible conferencing by offering a multipurpose event hall with operable walls. The 600-seater auditorium comes with full lecture and cinema support and a "digital forum" concept that effortlessly allows all venues to be internally and externally networked.

The conference rooms feature an interesting immersive four-wall video environment, with retractable projection screens allowing users to conduct virtual meetings. They also have electrochromic glass that gives users the flexibility to change from clear to opaque glass options based on their desired levels of light and privacy.

Besides this, the conference room ceiling has a "media cloud" installed, facilitating communication with mobile devices and simplifying wireless sharing and projection of user content in a meeting setting.

To enhance all these technological integrations, the conference rooms also come equipped with dynamic interactive signage, allowing attendees to brand individual rooms and conference venues.

Architectural Vision Behind The KAFD Conference Center

SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) is the design firm behind the KAFD Conference Center in Riyadh. Their architectural vision behind this project is only another clear reflection of their expertise in creating bold, futuristic, sculptural forms, integrating innovative engineering with architecture.

The other collaborators for this project include: