Riyadh Municipality Participates in the Fifth United Nations Mayors Forum in Switzerland

Riyadh Municipality Participates in the Fifth United Nations Mayors Forum in Switzerland

Source: Riyadh Region Municipality

2025-10-15

Riyadh 

Riyadh Municipality participated in the Fifth United Nations Mayors Forum, held in Geneva, Switzerland, marking its first-ever participation in this global event. This milestone reinforces Riyadh’s international presence and underscores its commitment to implementing the principles of sustainable urban development and strengthening international cooperation in this field.

The forum organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) under the theme “Cities Shaping the Future” was held for the first time with participation from countries outside the European Union. It brought together mayors from across the world to discuss key urban challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including health and quality of life, gender equality, economic growth, housing challenges, climate finance, and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs).

Serving as a key platform, the forum allows cities to engage directly in UN multilateral processes, recognizing the vital role that local and regional governments play in achieving global sustainable development objectives. It also enables cities to exchange experiences, showcase best practices, and develop recommendations to be presented at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, ensuring that urban perspectives are included in international policy discussions.

Through this participation, the Riyadh Municipality seized a valuable opportunity to build strategic partnerships with cities facing similar developmental challenges and to connect with international organizations and UN agencies, thereby strengthening Riyadh’s position as a regional leader in sustainable urban transformation.

The forum also provided the Municipality with access to diverse global experiences in tackling urban challenges and facilitated high-level meetings with international organization heads offering technical support and expertise in sustainable development. These engagements directly contribute to advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Municipality’s participation came with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as part of its technical assistance program to enhance municipal performance and promote sustainable urban growth.

Riyadh’s Green Commitment

As part of the forum’s “Plant Your Pledge” initiative which encourages cities to make tangible environmental commitments the Riyadh Municipality announced its pledge to plant 50,000 trees in 2026. This initiative reaffirms Riyadh’s dedication to greening efforts, improving quality of life, combating climate change, and expanding sustainable green spaces in alignment with the environmental goals of Vision 2030.

The insights and experiences gained from this participation will further strengthen the Riyadh Municipality’s ongoing efforts to advance sustainable urban development and expand the city’s contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

 

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Last Update:

10/15/2025


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