His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities and Housing, Mr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking rapid strides towards building the cities of the future, relying on digital innovation and effective strategic partnerships between the government sector and academic institutions. This came during a dialogue session entitled "Towards Smart and Sustainable Cities of the Future," held during his meeting with a select group of academics and students from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
Digital transformation in light of Vision 2030
The minister's remarks come within the context of the comprehensive development drive underway in the Kingdom, as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes "quality of life" and "smart cities." Al-Haqil noted that integrating artificial intelligence technologies into the municipal sector is no longer a luxury, but an urgent necessity for managing urban expansion and population growth with high efficiency. He explained that the ministry is working to transform complex urban challenges into sustainable development opportunities by relying on accurate data.
Record figures in efficiency and financial savings
In terms of figures that reflect the scale of the achievement, Al-Haqil revealed impressive results from the application of modern technologies, where tools such as "computer vision" and "smart monitoring" contributed to achieving qualitative leaps, including:
- Reduction in operating costs: by up to 80%, reflecting the efficiency of government spending.
- Direct financial savings: exceeding 250 million riyals, mainly resulting from improving the quality of road layers and construction projects.
- Increased compliance rate: It reached 64% thanks to precise automated monitoring.
- Reduced human dependence: The need for in-person reviews and human intervention in control processes has decreased to only 2%.
Future technologies: Digital twins and drones
The minister outlined the ministry's future directions, noting the pursuit of establishing national, live AI application labs. These applications include the use of "Digital Twin" technology for cities, an advanced technique that allows for the simulation of future scenarios and the impact of projects before their implementation, thus reducing engineering errors and financial waste. He also highlighted the expansion of the use of computer vision-enabled drones to accelerate the transfer of innovation from laboratories to city streets and ensure the responsible application of these technologies.
Strategic partnership with universities
Al-Haqil emphasized that universities, particularly King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and King Saud University, are not merely educational institutions, but strategic partners in leading urban transformation. He commended the role of graduates and researchers in activating the Municipal Sector Impact Assessment Framework (MCIF) and developing 19 design guidelines that have contributed to establishing a strong foundation for Saudi architecture and enhancing the urban landscape.
Positive impacts on quality of life
The minister concluded by noting that this fundamental shift in work philosophy has positively impacted public satisfaction, with satisfaction with municipal services rising from 49% to over 65%, and with city cleanliness from 53% to 76%. These indicators underscore the success of the ministry's strategy in managing vast assets, including more than 8,000 parks and 196,000 kilometers of roads, to ensure resource sustainability and citizen well-being.
