Riyadh: Today, countries around world reconsidering their approaches to urbanization

Saudi Arabia is implementing large-scale urban development reforms aimed at creating sustainable and people-centered megacities, a representative of the Kingdom said at a ministerial roundtable during the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

According to Report, he noted that countries around the world are currently reconsidering their approaches to urbanization and rethinking the role of people in the urban environment.

"As part of the national program, Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has launched a profound urban transformation, where quality of life and environmental sustainability have become the main pillars of development," he emphasized.

According to the speaker, these reforms have already entered the practical phase and have yielded tangible results in the housing sector. Specifically, home ownership in the country has increased from 47% to over 66%, and over 1 million households have been provided with modern housing solutions. Government programs have enabled tens of thousands of families to significantly improve their living conditions.

The Saudi Arabian representative also noted a fundamental shift in approaches to residential development design:

"We have launched 19 large-scale urban design initiatives. Their goal is to harmoniously combine advanced technological solutions with the preservation of the cities' unique cultural identity," he concluded.