From 2 to 8 April 2026, a high-level delegation from the Riyadh Region Municipality undertook a mission to the Netherlands in collaboration with UNDP Saudi Country Office. The mission built on a two-year strategic partnership and maintained the momentum of the 61st ISOCARP World Planning Congress hosted in Riyadh as part of the joint project between the two entities and a flagship achievement of the collaboration. Organized at the invitation of ISOCARP, the visit focused on advancing dialogue on integrated urban planning, city resilience, and the humanization of urban spaces. It also marked a significant step in strengthening Riyadh’s position within the global urban planning community and deepening its engagement in international knowledge exchange and city-shaping dialogue. 

The mission offered an opportunity to explore how the Netherlands approaches urban development as an integrated system, connecting housing, mobility, culture, the economy, logistics, the environment, and community participation within a coherent long-term vision.

Through meetings the delegation examined several key dimensions of urban transformation. The discussions highlighted that a successful city is not defined only by its visible landmarks or major projects. It also depends on the systems that operate behind the scenes, from supply chains and urban logistics to adaptive reuse, institutional learning, and the effective management of daily urban life.

The visit to the World Fashion Centre Amsterdam offered a strong example of how large urban assets can be given a new purpose. Instead of treating buildings that have lost their original function as obsolete, the approach focuses on transforming them into mixed-use places that combine housing, workspaces, culture, services, and everyday life.

Another important lesson came from Amsterdam Nieuw-West, where the delegation observed the value of structured community engagement. Regular dialogue with residents, field-based evidence, and collaboration between public officials, experts, and local communities can help identify priorities more clearly and accelerate the implementation of urban projects.

For Riyadh, the mission reinforced the importance of moving from isolated projects toward more complete urban districts. This means connecting housing with services, transport, public spaces, local economies, and culture, in order to create urban environments that are more coherent, human-centered, and sustainable.

The main takeaway is that the future of urban transformation depends on integration. International partnerships can become practical programmes, community engagement can become a driver of implementation, and culture, logistics, sustainability, and institutional capacity can be placed at the heart of urban planning.

Ultimately, the mission to Netherlands confirmed a clear conviction: the city of tomorrow will not only be the one that builds more, but the one that connects better. For Riyadh, the next step is to continue shaping a more complete, livable, and resilient city, aligned with its scale, ambition, and long-term vision.