JEDDAH: King Salman has launched a number of projects in the Riyadh region worth billions, that will enhance the living standards of residents of a province that he has shaped over the decades.  The 1,281 projects, which will develop the Saudi capital and surrounding towns, will cost around SR82 billion ($22 billion). The developments seek to enhance crucial infrastructure such as transportation and housing as well as a boost to the environment and education.  Seen as the ‘engineer’ of the city, King Salman served as the governor of Riyadh for a number of decades and oversaw the transformation of the Saudi capital into a modern, thriving metropolis and one of the most important cities in the Middle East.