Towards more humane cities: reshaping the urban landscape and addressing visual distortion
D. Khalid bin Saad al-Habshan
<Saudi cities today are experiencing an unprecedented moment of transformation, where urban development is no longer limited to infrastructure and mega urban projects, but rather touches the human being in the details of his day, on his way to work, on his walk with his family, and even in his view of a clean sidewalk, an organized garden and a harmonious visual scene. This transformation comes within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which has made quality of life one of its main pillars, and human beings the focus of all development. The humanization of cities is a strategic choice that translates the desire to make the urban environment more livable and in harmony with human psychological and social needs.
Humanizing Cities simply means that the city should be close to the human being, not just an impressive architecture, but a place where he feels comfortable and belongs. To achieve this, the concerned authorities in the Kingdom, led by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, are working to develop safe public spaces, shaded pedestrian walkways, distributed green parks, and harmonious urban facades that reflect the identity and history of the place. These efforts did not remain confined to paper, but became a tangible reality in a number of projects such as the waterfront in Jeddah, pedestrian walkways in Medina, and initiatives to develop the center of Riyadh, which brought life back to the heart of the city and created new social, cultural, and commercial opportunities.
<Because the urban landscape is a mirror of a city's character, the Kingdom has taken special care to enhance it and make it more attractive and cohesive, whether by coordinating urban facades, reorganizing commercial advertisements, or improving the design of sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping. Notably, these improvements not only serve visual beauty, but also increase the economic value of real estate, increase investment opportunities, and foster a sense of pride and belonging among residents. What is happening in Riyadh, Dammam and Abha is not inferior to global models such as Copenhagen or Singapore, where the city has become a tool for sustainable development and a stimulating environment for creativity.
At the same time. <In parallel, the Kingdom is moving steadily to address visual distortion, one of the most prominent challenges affecting the comfort of residents and the image of the city. The country has launched a comprehensive national initiative to improve the urban landscape, including removing random signs, organizing sidewalks, addressing abandoned buildings, and beautifying public spaces. These initiatives have had a direct impact on improving the urban environment, creating cleaner, more organized neighborhoods that are more attractive to families, investors, and tourists. The citizen has become a partner in this transformation by using smart applications to report disfigurement and participate in monitoring the quality of the public landscape.
The local experiences in Saudi Arabia are a testament to this transformation. <Saudi Arabia's local experiences are on par with global ambitions and successes. Just as Seoul in South Korea has reshaped its urban fabric in smart, humane ways, and Dubai has succeeded in creating a harmonious urban environment between modernity and heritage, the Kingdom's cities are setting new standards for how a city can be a place to live, not just a place to live. By 2030, it is expected that most of the visual distortions in Saudi cities will disappear, the elements of the urban landscape will be integrated to create a unique aesthetic identity for each city, and public spaces will become places to meet and inspire, not just neglected voids.
To ensure that this transformation continues, the Kingdom's cities are setting new standards for how a city should be a place to live, not just a space to inhabit. <To ensure that this positive transformation continues, it is important to promote community participation in neighborhood planning and facility design, encourage real estate developers to adopt aesthetic and environmental standards, provide incentives for projects that contribute to the humanization of the city, and develop smart systems to monitor and respond quickly to distortions. The future we are waiting for is green, attractive, vibrant cities where people live with dignity and tranquility. <Our Saudi cities today are changing not only in form, but in spirit, and are moving confidently towards an urban reality that will make them among the best in the world in quality of life and urban innovation. These are not promises, but practical steps that we see on the ground every day, and look forward to with greater confidence tomorrow.
Consultant in corporate governance and real estate investment regulation
@AlhabshanDr
