The First Urban Planning Forum, organized by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs under the theme «Modern Trends in Urban Planning» at the King Faisal Conference Hall in Riyadh, revealed the rapid pace at which the Kingdom is moving toward urbanization, as it ranks among the countries with the highest urbanization rates. The level of urbanization rose by approximately 33% between 1970 and 2010, and the number of cities grew from 58 in 1970 to 285 in 2015, the largest of which is Riyadh, with a population exceeding 6 million.
Growth and Pressure on Infrastructure
This was announced during the opening ceremony, which was attended by Engineer Abdul Latif bin Abdul Malik Al Sheikh, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, During the ceremony, Al-Sheikh emphasized that the proportion of the population living in urban areas has reached approximately 83% of the Kingdom’s total population, noting that the Ministry has developed a comprehensive plan to achieve sustainable urban development in Saudi cities. Al-Sheikh noted that rapid growth has been accompanied by pressure on infrastructure and services, as well as the emergence of problems such as traffic congestion and environmental pollution, and the emergence of informal settlements. He noted that all these factors are bound to result in additional challenges and burdens on city administrations, necessitating improved performance and the development of appropriate programs and methods to address them.
Formulation and Development of Urban Planning
In his speech, His Excellency the Minister stated that the Ministry has begun drafting programs aimed at developing and modernizing urban planning at all levels, to raise the quality and efficiency of municipal facilities, improve the quality of municipal services, and ensure the effective management and conservation of land—all with the aim of achieving the ultimate goal of urban development: the progress and prosperity of our cities and the well-being of their residents. Al-Sheikh emphasized the need to improve the performance of institutions and agencies responsible for managing urban affairs in terms of their planning approaches, organizational structure, staff competence, and work programs, noting that the Ministry will work to regulate and organize urban development, achieve effective institutional performance, promote community participation, ensure optimal autonomy for municipal resources, and build and strengthen sustainable partnerships with the private sector to implement the elements of this plan on the ground.
