The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2026, held in New York City from July 7 to 15, 2026, reaffirming its commitment to continue efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals based on the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Kingdom's delegation was headed by Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, and included representatives from 14 government, private, and non-profit entities, including: the Ministries of Economy and Planning, Foreign Affairs, Energy, Education, Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Municipalities and Housing; in addition to the Madinah Region Development Authority, the General Authority for Awqaf, the Saudi Fund for Development, Expo 2030 Riyadh, and several academic and private sector entities.

During the forum, the Kingdom presented its third Voluntary National Review report, prepared with the participation of more than 140 entities from the government, private, academic, non-profit sectors, and the United Nations system. The report monitors progress in implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan and reflects the approach of Saudi Vision 2030 in aligning global goals with a national implementation model through the National Sustainable Development Plan, which organizes more than 90 development priorities within nine integrated tasks.

The delegation participated in sessions for reviewing progress, ministerial meetings, and bilateral meetings, and made interventions on topics including sustainable development financing, water and sanitation services, clean energy, innovation, sustainable cities, and international partnerships.

The Ministry of Economy and Planning organized a side event titled 'Rethinking the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through Prioritization and Implementation Approaches,' with the participation of policymakers and development leaders to discuss best practices for accelerating the achievement of these goals.

The General Authority for Awqaf, represented by the Reyada Center, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a high-level roundtable titled 'Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Development Financing: Governance, Impact Measurement, and the Future Role of Awqaf,' in which the role of the awqaf sector was presented for the first time within the third Voluntary National Review, along with the introduction of the 'Awqaf Excellence Index' as a national model for measuring the performance of awqaf institutions and exploring the possibility of its international expansion.

The Kingdom also held a side exhibition titled 'Enhancing Sustainability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,' jointly organized by Expo 2030 Riyadh and the Saudi Sports for All Federation, showcasing national initiatives aimed at building more sustainable and inclusive communities.

The Madinah Region Development Authority highlighted the city's model in leveraging urban data and knowledge to support planning and decision-making, and presented initiatives including: the second Local Voluntary Review, the Sustainable Development Atlas of Neighborhoods, and the 'Manarah' urban data platform, in addition to proposing the 'Neighborhood Diagnosis Methodology' for broader international application.

During the forum, the Ministry of Economy and Planning launched two reports: 'Corporate Sustainability 2025,' which highlights the role of the private sector in supporting sustainability, and 'The Future of Global Development,' in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, which showcases the Kingdom's model in development cooperation through financing, expertise, innovation, and partnerships.

The Minister of Economy and Planning held a series of bilateral meetings with ministers, senior officials, and leaders of international organizations, discussing ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of sustainable development and economic growth.

Keywords

Saudi Arabia

Third Voluntary National Review

Sustainable Development Goals 2030

High-Level Political Forum 2026

Saudi Vision 2030

Ministry of Economy and Planning

United Nations

Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia

Corporate Sustainability Report 2025

Madinah Sustainability Model