Future Saudi Cities Program
The Future Saudi Cities Program is a Saudi program aimed at developing strategies, policies, and urban development programs at the national planning level to achieve sustainable development across all cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is based on a joint collaboration between the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat).
In May 2014, an introductory forum was held to present the program's objectives, which include providing a better urban environment in Saudi cities, addressing urban expansion through appropriate planning methods, and offering solutions to challenges in urban planning.
Objectives of the Future Saudi Cities Program
The Future Saudi Cities Program seeks to achieve sustainable development for Saudi cities by improving the quality of urban planning practices, granting more authority to urban planning processes, and addressing the needs and priorities of all individuals in society.
Axes of the Future Saudi Cities Program
The Future Saudi Cities Program is based on several key axes, including urban design and planning, measuring quality of life based on prosperity and well-being in cities, forming specialized teams, contributing to legislative development, and empowering youth and involving them in the development process. Youth empowerment is considered one of the program's main axes, ensuring that their needs and aspirations are addressed.
Implementation of the Future Saudi Cities Program
The Future Saudi Cities Program is implemented in cooperation with the municipalities of seventeen cities, selected based on specific criteria such as residential size, geographic distribution, and economic potential and capabilities. These cities include Riyadh, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Jeddah, Taif, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Tabuk, Dammam, Al-Qatif, Al-Ahsa, Abha, Najran, Jazan, Hail, Ar'ar, Al-Bahah, Buraydah, and Sikaka.
Extensive reviews have been conducted for these cities through urban and regional planning processes, including studying issues related to residential neighborhoods. A range of planning manuals has been used to identify strengths and weaknesses in the planning system, assess local planning practices in each city, select designs and projects, apply appropriate solutions, and establish recommendations and policies. These reviews are references for evaluating city prosperity indicators and validation processes through rapid planning studios.
Future Saudi Cities Program Studio
The Future Saudi Cities Program established a joint urban planning and design studio (lab) to foster self-reliance, develop tools and methodologies tailored to the program's needs, and facilitate knowledge exchange. The studio involves several international experts from the UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi, specifically from the Planning, Economy, and Legislation Branch, in addition to local staff from the UN-Habitat office in Riyadh City.