Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, UN Strengthen Partnership in Developing National Urban Policy

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing continued efforts to develop the Kingdom’s National Urban Policy (NUP) by organizing the second workshop in the current phase of the project, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
 The workshop saw broad participation from representatives of government entities, the private sector, academic institutions, and several international partners.
 The event forms part of a participatory process to prepare the Kingdom’s first NUP, which aims to unify and integrate national efforts in urban planning, management, and development. The policy seeks to establish a comprehensive national framework to guide urban growth, enhance planning system efficiency, and align with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and international best practices.
 The workshop reviewed and further developed draft policies and procedures, strengthened coordination across sectors and governance levels, and enhanced alignment between national priorities and regional and local planning frameworks. Discussions also focused on identifying participatory solutions to establish practical mechanisms for implementation, monitoring, and follow-up to ensure measurable impact.
 In his opening remarks, Vice Minister for Urban Planning and Land Affairs Khalid Al-Ghamlas described the development of the NUP as a strategic step toward improving responses to current and future urban challenges. He stressed the importance of continued integrated collaboration among relevant entities to formulate a policy that reflects national priorities and keeps pace with rapid urban transformation.
 Al-Ghamlas said the current phase represents a key milestone in the policy development process, noting that proposals and feedback presented during the workshop will directly contribute to refining the next version of the policy and shaping a clearer, more comprehensive implementation framework.
 UNDP Resident Representative in the Kingdom Nahid Hussein and UN-Habitat Representative Taina Christiansen underscored the importance of integrating national and international expertise and strengthening institutional cooperation to ensure the development of an urban policy that supports sustainable development, inclusivity, and improved quality of life in the Kingdom’s cities.
 Christiansen noted that a robust NUP can serve as a cohesive framework linking economic diversification, housing, infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and quality of life across cities and regions, while reinforcing coordination among institutions and across different levels of government.
 Senior Director of Policy and Strategy Integration at the Assistant Deputyship for Sustainable Development the Ministry of Economy and Planning Aljawhara Al-Quayid also participated in the workshop, highlighting sustainable urban development as a national priority. She reviewed the integration of national sustainable development initiatives with the NUP to ensure coherence within a comprehensive development framework.
 The workshop featured interactive sessions addressing key urban challenges and opportunities, mechanisms to enhance spatial integration, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen institutional coordination. Discussions also covered implementation pathways, operational frameworks, and monitoring mechanisms for upcoming phases of the policy.
 The initiative is part of a broader program led by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing to develop the Kingdom’s urban planning system in partnership with national and international organizations. The program aims to strengthen regulatory and legislative frameworks, build institutional capacity, and enable integrated and sustainable urban development nationwide.
 NUPs are internationally recognized tools that enhance coordination across sectors and governance levels, guide long-term urban development, set equitable priorities, and stimulate investment toward more productive, inclusive, and sustainable cities.
 The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to advancing an NUP that reflects the Kingdom’s aspirations for balanced, resilient, and sustainable cities through a comprehensive, participatory approach involving stakeholders at all stages of development.