At Cityscape Global 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) joined the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMaH) to highlight how strategic collaboration is accelerating sustainable and people-centered urban transformation across Saudi Arabia. As the Kingdom advances its Vision 2030 goals, the partnership is helping shape well-planned, sustainable, and resilient cities that prioritize the well-being, inclusion, and quality of life of residents.

Through high-level dialogues, panels, and youth-focused engagements, this year’s participation showcased progress under the Spatial Planning Reform and Visual Appeal Program (SPR-VAP). The nationally led, globally informed partnership between MoMaH, UNDP, and UN-Habitat is strengthening spatial governance, enhancing urban policy frameworks, and advancing innovation and capacity development to support integrated, adaptive and forward-looking urban development across the Kingdom.

The Future in Focus: A Partnership Deep Dive

UNDP’s contribution on the DnA (Developers & Architects) Stage opened with the spotlight session “The Future in Focus – Saudi Arabia’s Urban Policy and Global Collaboration.”

In the dialogue, UNDP Resident Representative Nahid Hussein and Khaled Alghmlas, Deputy Minister for Urban Planning and Lands, reflected on how structured cooperation is helping establish a more coordinated and effective planning ecosystem across the Kingdom. They highlighted progress made since the announcementof SPR-VAP on the sidelines of Cityscape Global 2023 and the start of joint implementation in 2024.

Speaking on the direction of the Kingdom’s transformation, Nahid Hussein noted:
 “Saudi Arabia is transforming its cities at an unprecedented scale, and its experience is increasingly informing regional and global thinking on sustainable urban development. As urbanization accelerates worldwide, the Kingdom’s approach - grounded in human development, mobility, and quality of life - offers valuable insights for the future of cities.”

She also recalled the words of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who stated that “Our struggle for global sustainability will be won or lost in cities.”

The dialogue emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s urban transformation is nationally led while enriched by comparative international experience. As the Kingdom continues to urbanize, it is drawing on international best practices while increasingly sharing its insights with partners across the region and beyond. 

Key areas of progress as part of the SPR-VAP program include: 

• Developing a National Urban Policy (NUP): The Kingdom began developing its first National Urban Policy through an inaugural workshop held in July 2025, convened by MoMaH in collaboration with UNDP and UN-Habitat. The workshop brought together government representatives, academia, the private sector, and international partners to examine the proposed structure of the policy and key thematic areas, including integrated planning, spatial balance, resource efficiency, economic vitality, and quality of life. Participants underscored the importance of grounding the policy in the Kingdom’s national context while drawing on international experience. With this initiative, Saudi Arabia joins nearly 80 percent of countries worldwide that have adopted a National Urban Policy as a strategic tool for sustainable development (according to the Global State of National Urban Policy 2024 report, issued by UN-Habitat and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Additional consultations will take place throughout 2026.
• Modernizing the Municipal System (CRMS): MoMaH is advancing the Classification and Reconfiguration of the Municipal System (CRMS) initiative, a multi-year effort supported by UN-Habitat and UNDP to harmonize municipal structures and clarify supervisory boundaries. Recent boundary alignment efforts convened Amanahs, municipalities,[RA1]  and international partners to review existing arrangements and explore opportunities for improved coordination. This work will continue through 2026 as regions refine their proposals and classifications, with the aim of improving planning efficiency, strengthening institutional capacity, and building a more coherent and sustainable municipal system.
• Investing in Human Capital: Human capital remains a central pillar of the Kingdom’s urban transformation efforts. In 2025, 89 MoMaH staff members participated in specialized capacity-building programs delivered through the partnership with UNDP and UN-Habitat. In 2026, these trainings will expand to include targeted support for Amanahs across the regions, helping to ensure that technical expertise is strengthened nationwide. A new Urban Talent Program will further equip emerging Saudi planners with the skills needed to contribute to future-ready cities.
• Driving Innovation through the Urban Lab: MoMaH’s Deputyship for Urban Planning and Lands is advancing the Urban Lab Initiative to foster proactive, evidence-based approaches to planning and implementation. Designed as an incubator for new tools, analytical methods, and regulatory solutions, the Lab will support the piloting and refinement of planning concepts before they are scaled nationally. As part of the wider reform program implemented with UNDP and UN-Habitat, the Urban Lab will continue to develop through 2026 to promote innovation, institutional learning, and integrated urban development across the Kingdom.

Broadening the Conversation

Beyond the main policy dialogue, UNDP and UN-Habitat contributed to several technical and youth-focused sessions at Cityscape Global. On the DnA Stage, UNDP Chief Technical Advisor Markus Appenzeller participated in the panel “People First – Humanising the Way Cities Are Built,” emphasizing planning and design approaches that reflect cultural identity, community needs, and long-term livability.

As part of the Future Leaders Hackathon, Costanza La Mantia, PhD, UN-Habitat’s Urban Lab Initiative Lead, served as a judge and mentor to student teams developing concepts that integrate sustainability and heritage into contemporary urban design. In advance of the event, UNDP and UN-Habitat supported participating students through a preparatory webinar and individualized mentoring sessions. Together, these engagements reflect the partnership’s commitment to empowering emerging talent and strengthening national capacity in the urban planning field.

A Nationally Led, Globally Informed Partnership for the Long Term

Showcasing the progress of the SPR-VAP partnership at Cityscape Global underscores the depth of collaboration between MoMaH, UNDP, and UN-Habitat. By combining national leadership with global expertise, the programme is strengthening institutions, enhancing planning systems, and developing the human capital needed to sustain a vibrant, innovative, and future-ready urban landscape across the Kingdom.

For more information about the Spatial Planning Reform and Visual Appeal Program, contact urban.sa@undp.org or unhabitat-saudiarabia@un.org