RIYADH: The Saudi capital has made history by becoming the first city in the Middle East to receive the Global Active City certification, an international recognition for cities that promote active living and a healthy lifestyle, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced on Monday.

“The Global Active City certification reflects Riyadh’s status as a city that applies the best international standards in promoting health, activity, and quality of life. This underscores RCRC’s commitment to building a sustainable global city that places the human being at the heart of development,” the commission posted on X.

Commenting on certification, RCRC CEO Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al-Sultan said that this achievement reflects the continued support and ambitious vision of the Kingdom’s leadership, which has enabled Riyadh to make significant progress in improving quality-of-life indicators across the city, in line with the goals set under Saudi Vision 2030.

He expressed appreciation for the efforts of associate partners, including the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Sports for All Federation, saying that their active contributions played a key role in securing this international recognition.

According to the RCRC, the recognition reflects years of work to improve the quality of life across the city. From expanding public spaces to building sports facilities and active transport routes, Riyadh has been quietly setting up the foundations for healthier urban living.

The certification is granted by the Active Well-being Initiative and backed by the International Olympic Committee.