The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, as part of the Saudi Arabian delegation participating in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, took part in a session titled "Sustainable Cities and Local Communities." During the session, the Kingdom showcased its efforts in promoting sustainable urban development, achievements in quality of life, homeownership, and development of public spaces, reflecting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 towards building more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities. The Director of Urban Economy and Resilience at the Urban Planning and Land Agency, Engineer Anmar Shabana, presented during the session the integrated urban approach adopted by the Kingdom, based on enhancing integration between housing, municipal services, transport, and environment sectors, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals and improving quality of life in Saudi cities.

Saudi Achievements

He explained that the Kingdom has achieved qualitative accomplishments in this field, most notably the increase in homeownership rate to 66.24% by the end of 2025, approaching the Saudi Vision 2030 target of 70%. Additionally, about 75% of the population has access to public spaces, supported by several national initiatives, most notably the "Bahja" project, which has contributed to adding more than 12 million square meters of developed community spaces. He pointed out that the Kingdom continues to develop and update regional and local city plans, supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals, enhancing urban development efficiency, and keeping pace with national development targets.

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Facing Urban Challenges

He affirmed that achieving sustainable cities and communities constitutes a fundamental pillar for achieving many sustainable development goals, through improving quality of life, enhancing economic growth, protecting the environment, and promoting social inclusion. He stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation, exchanging expertise, and building partnerships based on knowledge and innovation to address common urban challenges. It is worth noting that the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the main United Nations platform for follow-up and review of progress in implementing the sustainable development goals. It is held annually with the participation of member states, international organizations, and various stakeholders, aiming to enhance the exchange of experiences, review best practices, and support international efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.