The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the World Urban Forum World Urban Forum XIII (WUF13), hosted in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026, with a wide international presence of governments, international organizations, experts and decision-makers concerned with urban development and sustainable housing, with the participation of a Saudi delegation that included 40 participants and representatives from 46 governmental, private and non-profit entities.The Saudi delegation included 340 participants representing 46 organizations from the government, private and non-profit sectors.The Kingdom's pavilion, which was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipalities and Housing, witnessed a remarkable attendance and wide interaction from the Forum's visitors, receiving more than 21,000 visitors, while the Saudi participation included more than 30 high-level dialogue sessions and 50 accompanying events and presentations, which showcased Saudi experiences in the fields of housing, urban development, sustainability, quality of life, financing solutions, urban innovation and the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in developing cities.
The Saudi pavilion was inaugurated by H.E. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipalities and Housing.
Review of national initiatives and projects The Kingdom's participation in the forum reflected the scale of the urban and developmental transformation it is witnessing within the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, by reviewing national initiatives and projects that contributed to raising ownership rates, enhancing real estate supply, improving quality of life, developing the urban landscape and enabling Saudi cities to adopt more sustainable, flexible and attractive development models.<The Kingdom's pavilion highlighted Saudi experiences in urban development and infrastructure, developmental housing, public-private partnerships, as well as initiatives related to environmental sustainability and smart cities, reflecting the Kingdom's position as an advanced global model in urban transformation and sustainable urban planning.
Bilateral meetings and official meetings
The Saudi participation included 7 bilateral meetings and official meetings with a number of delegations and international organizations, as well as the signing of 7 agreements and memorandums of understanding aimed at enhancing cooperation and exchange of experiences in the fields of urban development, housing and urban innovation.<The Kingdom's pavilion received 29 official visits from a number of Their Excellencies, officials, heads of delegations and representatives of international organizations, during which they were briefed on the most prominent Saudi experiences and qualitative projects led by the Kingdom in the municipalities and housing sectors, and the development goals achieved, which reflected on the quality of life and efficiency of Saudi cities.
The Saudi participation in the 13th World Urban Forum confirmed the Kingdom's keenness to strengthen its presence in international forums specialized in urban development, exchange experiences with various countries around the world, and contribute to shaping the future of sustainable cities based on its ambitious vision that puts human beings at the forefront.
