The Kingdom's prominent participation in the World Urban Forum
In a move reflecting the rapid development witnessed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the housing and urban development sectors, the Minister of Municipalities and Housing, Mr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, revealed exceptional details about the Kingdom's pavilion at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13). This prominent global event, held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the world's leading platform for discussing sustainable urban development issues and was established by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to address growing urban challenges.
Saudi Vision 2030: A Comprehensive Urban Transformation
The Kingdom's pavilion at the World Urban Forum tells an inspiring success story, presenting a global model for urban development. The pavilion showcases the remarkable transformation being spearheaded by Saudi Vision 2030. During the pavilion's opening, Minister Al-Hogail emphasized that Saudi cities have undergone a radical transformation, becoming more human-friendly and focused on quality of life and environmental sustainability. This transformation is not merely about infrastructure changes; it is a reshaping of the concept of urban living to meet the aspirations of citizens and residents, positively impacting the regional and international landscape and positioning the Kingdom as a leading destination for investment and development.
King Salman's Urban Charter: Authenticity and Modernity
Among the most prominent milestones highlighted in the pavilion was the launch of the “King Salman Urban Charter” by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. This charter has brought about a qualitative and historic shift in the process of restoring cities to their rich identity, as it integrates authentic Saudi architectural traditions derived from a long-standing heritage with modern and contemporary technologies, creating a unique urban environment that reflects the Kingdom’s culture and long history and lays the foundation for a sustainable urban future.
Achievements of developmental housing and support programs
In a related context, the Minister of Municipalities and Housing considered the developmental housing sector one of the nation's most remarkable success stories. More than 50,000 families have been able to own their homes in a record-breakingly short period. This achievement reflects the efficiency of the housing support programs offered to all families in general, and to eligible groups in particular. These programs are working to achieve a balanced homeownership rate across the Kingdom, striving to reach the Vision's objectives of raising the percentage of citizens owning their homes to 70% by 2030. The Minister explained that all Saudi cities are currently undergoing comprehensive replanning to align with these ambitious goals.
Smart and healthy cities: international recognition
The success wasn't limited to providing housing; it extended to quality of life and digital transformation. Al-Hogail highlighted the outstanding performance of eight Saudi cities in the IMD Smart City Index, published by the International Institute for Management Development. This reflects the strength and robustness of the Kingdom's digital government infrastructure and its application to serving the population. Furthermore, the Minister commended the inclusion of 16 Saudi cities in the Global Health Index, which comprises over 80 precise indicators that assess quality of life in healthy cities. This international accreditation, aligned with World Health Organization standards, underscores the Kingdom's commitment to providing a healthy and sustainable urban environment, making the Saudi experience a model for the world.
