Municipalities Minister Highlights Saudi Arabia's Urban Development Progress and National Transformation Indicators at United Nations
Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail affirmed that Saudi Arabia has established an advanced model for sustainable urban development, progressing from planning and policymaking to implementation and measurable impact. Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has made quality of life, housing, municipal development, and sustainability key pillars of its national transformation.
The remarks came during the Kingdom's address delivered by the minister at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the New Urban Agenda in New York.
Al-Hogail said Saudi Arabia had submitted its updated 2026 National Report to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), documenting the Kingdom's urban transformation in recent years and highlighting its transition from establishing policy frameworks to expanding implementation and delivering tangible results on the ground.
The minister reviewed key national achievements, noting that the homeownership rate among Saudi households increased from 47% in 2016 to 66.24% by the end of 2025, approaching the Vision 2030 target of 70%. He added that more than 25% of Saudi households benefited from housing support services under the Kingdom's housing programs between 2018 and 2025.
He also highlighted the rapid pace of urban development, noting that public open space per capita increased from 5.2 square meters to 6.9 square meters, while the Bahjah Program added more than 12 million square meters of community spaces. Riyadh Metro recorded more than 100 million passengers during its first nine months of operation, while city bus services carried more than 96.8 million passengers in 2025, reflecting significant progress in the urban mobility ecosystem and improvements in quality of life.
Al-Hogail emphasized that the Kingdom's urban transformation has also extended to the social dimension, with women's labor force participation increasing from 22.8% to 36%, while employment among persons with disabilities more than doubled. He added that the number of nonprofit organizations exceeded 7,213, representing growth of more than 341%, reflecting broader community participation in the Kingdom's development journey.
The minister said that Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its urban governance framework by enhancing the financial independence of municipalities, integrating urban data systems, incorporating climate risk assessments into urban planning, and advancing the Saudi Green Initiative and the National Renewable Energy Program to improve the sustainability and resilience of cities.
He also highlighted the importance of partnerships and investment in driving this transformation, noting that the Kingdom has concluded more than 56 partnership agreements with the private sector to support infrastructure and municipal service projects. Saudi Arabia has also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with UN-Habitat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) covering the period from 2024 to 2027. In addition, the Kingdom issued $9.1 billion in green bonds and sustainable sukuk in 2024, while the Public Investment Fund's Green Finance Framework is expected to exceed $10 billion in commitments by 2026.
In concluding his remarks, the minister reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to advancing the objectives of the New Urban Agenda, strengthening international cooperation, and expanding access to sustainable financing to build more inclusive and sustainable cities while enhancing quality of life for future generations.
