May 2025 — Saudi Arabia

As part of its collaboration with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMaH), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with UN-Habitat, carried out technical field visits across five regions in the Kingdom: Eastern Region, Jazan, Madinah, Northern Borders, and Qassim.

These field visits are part of a broader, multi-year programme aimed at modernizing planning approaches, strengthening municipal systems, and shaping cities that reflect Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme emphasizes sustainable urban development, innovation, and institutional capacity building.

Through open dialogue and structured engagement with regional Amanahs and local Baladiyahs, the initiative ensures that national strategies are informed by local insights. Feedback from the field supports the continuous improvement of municipal systems, making them more responsive, capable, and future-ready.

The missions included technical exchanges, workshops, and site visits with local officials to better understand regional priorities, operational challenges, and opportunities for innovation. Discussions focused on how municipalities can better serve growing populations, coordinate development efforts, and align services with local realities.

Local authorities expressed appreciation for the collaborative approach, emphasizing its value in driving municipal excellence and innovation. The visits were also covered by the Saudi Press Agency and shared across local government social media platforms, amplifying their visibility and impact.

This fieldwork reflects the UN’s commitment to partnership with MoMaH and other Saudi government agencies, bringing global expertise to support the development of resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and livable cities. It also reinforces national ownership by equipping institutions with the tools and capacity to lead urban development into the future.