RIYADH: Jeddah has been placed 74th globally in the Quality of Life Index for 2025, according to data from Numbeo that enables users to view, share, and compare information about cities worldwide.
It is the highest-ranked city in Saudi Arabia and the second in the Arab world after Muscat, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The achievement is attributed to continuous improvements in safety, healthcare, infrastructure development, the provision of modern public facilities, and the city’s commitment to transforming developmental ambitions into tangible realities that serve both residents and visitors.
Under the umbrella of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, and in line with the Quality of Life Program within Saudi Vision 2030, Jeddah Municipality has completed landmark projects that have helped to reshape the city’s urban landscape.
Among the most prominent projects are the coastal developments, which include five integrated waterfronts.
These areas feature walking and cycling paths, public squares, children’s play areas, and artistic sculptures, making the sea a part of the city’s daily life. Along the waterfronts, service facilities such as restaurants, cafes, rest areas, and piers allow visitors to explore the coastline up close.
“Jeddah has become more pedestrian-friendly, in my opinion. Also, there are now huge spaces across the city for outdoor activities,” resident Hala Hussain told Arab News.
She added that these outdoor activities are ideal during the cooler months of the year.
Hussain added: “The sea is part of our identity as Jeddawis, and seeing all these changes to accommodate our life near the sea makes us feel connected to nature.”
These projects include continuous beach maintenance programs which ensure cleanliness, protect the marine environment, and raise community awareness about the importance of preserving these spaces.
The municipality has also opened more than 445 parks spread across different neighborhoods, including specialized areas like Al-Saja Park, which features pathways and interconnected gardens and serves as a model for green space planning.
Prince Majid Park, the largest of its kind, spans over 130,000 sq. meters and boasts shaded walkways and family-friendly play areas, making it a gathering point for all generations.
Jeddah Municipality’s projects also focus on enhancing pedestrian pathways, installing modern lighting systems, and expanding sidewalks to increase comfort and safety.
These initiatives have encouraged residents to engage in physical activities and improved their daily mobility, while the municipality has also enhanced cleaning and maintenance programs. These include sidewalk and highway cleaning, removal of large amounts of waste, including unwanted concrete barriers, as well as the regulation of street vendors to ensure a healthy and safe urban environment.
The municipality has also invested in developing central areas by improving neighborhood centers, upgrading commercial and service facilities, and creating spaces for community activities.
Jeddah has adopted innovative waste management programs, including waste sorting at source, converting waste into resources, and monitoring pollution, which has positively impacted air quality and environmental comfort within the city.
With its balanced approach to coastal, public facility, and community service projects, Jeddah has shown itself to be both an economic and tourist hub, and stands as a living example of a good quality of life, in which natural environments seamlessly merge with infrastructure and services to offer a comprehensive urban experience that meets the needs of both residents and visitors.
