RIYADH: Saudi Arabia emphasized the need for comprehensive strategic frameworks to tackle global economic, climate, and development challenges during the seventh Urban 20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
A delegation led by Fahd Al-Rasheed, adviser to the General Secretariat of the Saudi Council of Ministers, participated in several key discussions at the event, highlighting the Kingdom’s urban development strategies and its commitment to sustainability, social inclusion, and economic empowerment on a global scale.
Speaking about the country’s approach to urban transformation, Al-Rasheed said: “Saudi Arabia has adopted a comprehensive strategic framework for urban development and transformation that empowers city leadership to pursue the initiatives that drive their growth and success.”
He also underlined that the U20, which unites cities from G20 member states, is vital in facilitating tools such as financing models to support cities in achieving their goals.
Al-Rasheed gave those remarks during a panel discussion titled “Empowering Cities on their Own Paths to Development,” which included global urban leaders such as Edward Glaeser of Harvard University, Nasiphi Moya, mayor of Pretoria, and Kate Gallego, mayor of Phoenix.
At the summit, Al-Rasheed also attended the launch of the first U20 book, a compilation of insights from global urbanists addressing shared challenges faced by metropolizes.
His contribution, titled “Enlightened City Leadership: A New Model for a Sustainable Urban Future,” highlighted the importance of training city leaders to manage the complexities of modern urban administration.
“Delivering on urban development imperatives requires comprehensive strategic planning that embraces governance, resourcing, and competitive advantage,” he remarked.
Al-Rasheed pointed to projections that cities with populations exceeding 1 million will increase from 700 today to 1,600 by 2080.
To meet the growing demand, he underlined that approximately 2 million urban leadership professionals will need to be trained over the next 35 years.
“Urban development plans must include mechanisms to address pervasive issues, including poverty and social inclusion while preparing the next generation of city leaders to confront the deluge of challenges that cities will continue to face worldwide,” he said.
The Urban 20 event in Brazil. Supplied
Al-Rasheed further explained that although many institutions offer training in disciplines such as urban planning, civil engineering, and public administration, there remains a lack of programs providing a comprehensive curriculum specifically focused on preparing city leaders to address both the technical and socioeconomic aspects of their roles.
The U20 summit concluded with a closed-door session attended by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, where Al-Rasheed reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability and social equity in urban development.
“We are proud to represent Saudi Arabia’s unique perspective and experience in urban development on this important global stage,” he said, according to press release, adding: “We look forward to continuing Saudi Arabia’s legacy of leadership at the Urban 20 and to continuing our work with urban leaders from around the world to unify city voices around common challenges.”
Among the highlights of the delegation’s activities was a mayoral dinner co-hosted by Al-Rasheed and Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio de Janeiro and chair of this year’s Urban 20.
The event brought together more than 100 city leaders, including the mayors of major cities such as Paris, Pretoria, Helsinki, and Phoenix, to celebrate civic leadership and its impact on urban development.
Representatives from multinational organizations, such as Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of UN-Habitat, also attended the gathering.
In his opening remarks at the dinner, Al-Rasheed said: “Mayoral leadership calls for a unique combination of abilities to anticipate and navigate future trends, including technological disruptions, economic shifts, and demographic changes, while demonstrating the social sensitivity to care for and improve citizens’ daily lives.”
He added: “By convening senior city leaders from around the world to address the common challenges of urban development and city leadership, Saudi Arabia continues to demonstrate its commitment to global collaboration in the spirit of the Urban 20.”
