RIYADH: Riyadh Municipality set a Guinness World Record by registering 14,642 volunteers on an accredited volunteering platform within a single week in Riyadh on Dec. 8.

The achievement reflects the growing culture of volunteering in Riyadh and society’s role in supporting environmental and developmental initiatives, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Last week, the municipality announced the launch of the Riyadh Volunteers initiative on Dec. 8, during which volunteers carried out environmental and field work across the city’s neighborhoods to improve the urban landscape and enhance quality of life, in line with Vision 2030.

Abdulwahab bin Fardan, the municipality’s assistant deputy mayor of community engagement, received the official record certificate from Guinness World Records representatives during a ceremony in Riyadh.

The accomplishment builds on the municipality’s support, led by Mayor Prince Faisal bin Ayyaf, to promote community participation, strengthen volunteerism and expand its impact across the city.

Prince Faisal also took part in the Riyadh Volunteers initiative at Al-Nakheel Park, joining volunteers in planting seedlings to support afforestation and enhance the urban environment, in line with the municipality’s mission to boost community contributions to development and environmental efforts.

Key activities include planting, cleanliness campaigns, monitoring, food preservation and clothing recycling, all aimed at improving quality of life, the SPA reported.

The initiative attracts diverse participation from government entities, the private sector and nonprofit organizations, strengthening community engagement in urban development.

The scheme aims to expand volunteer participation and raise awareness of the importance of community involvement in improving the city.

So far, more than 30,000 people have taken part in volunteer activities across various tracks, including planting, cleaning, monitoring, food preservation and clothing recycling, contributing to a better urban environment, supporting sustainability and enhancing quality of life.

International Volunteer Day, observed annually on Dec. 5, highlights the vital role of volunteers in development initiatives, raises public awareness of their community impact, and encourages engagement locally and internationally.

Volunteering fosters participation, responsibility and social cohesion, and in the Kingdom, it receives strong support as part of Vision 2030’s focus on developing the nonprofit sector and empowering volunteers, the SPA reported.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed remarkable growth in both the number of volunteers and the impact of their initiatives, aided by advanced digital platforms that enhance the organization and efficiency of volunteer efforts.

International Volunteer Day celebrates these contributions across fields such as health, environment and culture, reflecting values of solidarity and humanity.