Urban transformation starts with people. Across the world, cities that work best are those where public institutions invest continuously in their people’s skills, knowledge, and leadership.  

In Saudi Arabia, this people-first approach is reflected in the partnership between UNDP, UN-Habitat, and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMaH) to support the Spatial Planning Reform and Visual Appeal Program. Together, these institutions are contributing to strengthening spatial planning governance and practice, enhancing municipal performance, and advancing the creation of vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable places across the Kingdom. 

Lasting urban transformation depends as much on people and institutions as it does on plans, systems, and governance. This is where capacity building plays an essential role.  

Why Capacity Building Matters 

Capacity building is recognized as a critical enabler of sustainable urban development. It helps institutions bridge one of the most common barriers to progress: the gap between ambitious plans and the specialized expertise required to translate them into action. UNDP and UN-Habitat have seen time and again that lasting transformation requires more than policies, plans, or technical tools. It requires people who are equipped to create, lead, and sustain that change. In practice, this means ensuring that knowledge is not just gained but owned and embedded within the institutions that shape cities. 

Global experience further shows that capacity development is strongest when paired with networks of practice, where lessons and innovations can be exchanged across regions and adapted to local realities. This thinking has guided capacity-building efforts with MoMaH to date. 

Building Institutional Know-How: 2025 in Review 

In 2025, capacity-building support shifted from design to delivery. Through the Knowledge Transfer Program, UNDP and UN-Habitat facilitated a series of learning sessions and workshops engaging more than 90 MoMaH staff. These practical, hands-on sessions introduced foundational tools and concepts in urban planning and governance, helping participants strengthen their understanding of how planning decisions shape real-world outcomes for communities. 

Workshops covered: 

A key milestone was a regional knowledge-exchange session on urban regeneration, delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing in Bahrain. The session convened experts to explore how heritage, public space, and regeneration approaches shape places where people want to live, work, and gather. This type of peer-to-peer learning forms the foundation of long-term communities of practice and supports a culture of shared learning beyond single workshops. 

International Exposure and Future Urban Leadership 

Beyond the Knowledge Transfer Program, capacity-building efforts are also looking toward longer-term opportunities that support sustained institutional development. An International Study Tour is currently under preparation, anticipated to begin in 2026. The tour will enable municipal practitioners to learn directly from global examples, helping translate international experience into locally grounded solutions and informing how capacity building evolves in the years ahead. 

Looking Ahead to 2026 

Capacity-building efforts are expected to expand in 2026, both in scope and reach. New learning themes will include climate-smart planning, digital tools and data, and community-centered development approaches. Participation will broaden beyond the Deputyship for Urban Planning and Lands to reach staff across additional deputyships and local municipalities. 

The long-term aim is to support national ownership and develop sustained institutional capacity, laying the foundation for an approach to urban development that endures well into the future. 

Conclusion 

At its core, the impact of capacity building is not measured in workshops delivered or officials trained. Its real impact will be felt in the everyday places where communities live, work, and move. By strengthening the people behind the plans, we are ensuring that the cities of tomorrow are built on a foundation of local expertise and global best practices.