The Mayor of Madinah Region, Eng. Fahad Albulihshi, recently inaugurated the “Communication” event organized by the Madinah Region Development Authority, as part of the activities of the 12th World Urban Forum hosted by Cairo, Egypt. The event, organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), focused on the theme of “Localizing sustainable development goals and enhancing urban resilience.” Albulihshi emphasized the role of cities in implementing 65 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals through local efforts, highlighting the importance of urban data availability and quality in achieving these goals. The event aimed to showcase the experience of Madinah, one of the first Arab cities to issue voluntary reviews, in analyzing livability and resilience against risks, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
Princess Nouf bint Mohammed Al-Saud, CEO of the King Khalid Foundation, emphasized the need for combined efforts from the government, private sector, non-profit organizations, and society to bring about effective change towards achieving sustainable development goals and building resilient urban environments. She commended the progress made by cities in the Middle East and North Africa in improving overall resilience, with Saudi Arabia leading efforts through its ambitious transformation process and urban development strategies. The dialogue sessions at the event focused on the vital role of cities in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, promoting cooperation to address urban challenges, and highlighting strategies to enhance resilience in the face of various challenges. The discussions also reviewed voluntary local reviews from cities like Amman, Madinah, and Agadir, showcasing best practices and experiences in sustainable urban development.
During the event, the Madinah Region Development Authority presented the “Manara” platform for urban data, which recently won the Best Geospatial Application 2024 Award at the National Geospatial Platform Forum. The platform aims to provide comprehensive urban data analysis to identify strengths and areas for improvement in Madinah, with the goal of making the city a model for sustainability, flexibility, inclusiveness, and innovation. The “Madinah: A Liveable City of Peace” report showcased the city’s standard of living and urban policies, while the “Madinah resilience: Towards a resilient future against risks” report focused on Madinah’s ability to withstand various risks and support government decisions based on reliable data and indicators. With rapid urban growth expected in Madinah due to the Saudi Vision 2030 programs, the authority aims to build awareness among stakeholders and ensure resilience against future challenges.
Overall, the “Communication” event organized by the Madinah Region Development Authority at the 12th World Urban Forum highlighted the importance of collaboration between different sectors and society in achieving sustainable development goals and enhancing urban resilience. The event showcased the experiences and best practices of cities like Madinah in implementing strategies for sustainable urban development, with a focus on data analysis, policy-making, and resilience building. Through initiatives like the “Manara” platform and the resilience reports, the authority aims to strengthen Madinah’s position as a livable and resilient city, capable of balancing societal, environmental, and economic needs. By emphasizing the role of cities in achieving global goals and promoting cooperation across regions, the event contributed to a broader discussion on sustainable urban development and resilience building.
