The project consists of 59 towers in an area of 1.6 million square meters. It will provide more than 3 million square meters of space for various uses, 62,000 parking spaces and accommodation for 12,000 residents. In 2011, it was the largest project in the world seeking green building accreditation.[4] Bombardier won a $241m contract to build an automated monorail for the development.[5][6][7] The design guidelines do not separate the genders in the district.[7] The KAFD master plan was designed and overseen by Danish architectural firm Henning Larsen Architects. International architecture firms such as HOK, Omrania, SOM, CallisonRTKL, Gensler, and Foster + Partners were commissioned to design individual buildings in the district, such as the 380-meter PIF Tower (HOK and Omrania).[8] Additional design work was provided by W Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The CEO of the development is Waleed Aleisa.[9] The project was at one point estimated to cost 29 billion Saudi riyals ($7.8 billion).[10]

Upon completion, KAFD is expected to host round 50,000 residents[11]. As Riyadh is characterized by its high temperature, a solar system will be installed to cool the passenger bridges that are going to act as a network that connects 30 building together[12].

KAFD Grand Mosque designed by Omrania[13]

The project is considered to be long over due and needed for a city of the size and position of Riyadh. The key issue with the project was timing as it was announced and incepted during the 2008 financial crisis[14]. A number of local and international commentators highlighted the potential oversupply issue with the project.[15] However, others, such as Hans Mueller in Saudi Real Estate Companion, believe that the market will be able to absorb the supply in the medium term.[citation needed][timeframe?]

The first phase was expected to open by July 2017.[16]

According to an interview with the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, King Abdullah Financial District will host the G20 summit in 2020.