Riyadh Municipality participated in the Smart City Expo World Congress held in Barcelona from 4–6 November 2025, through its involvement in the Arab–European City Dialogue (AECD) session, presented under the Governance and Economy track on the People First stage. The session received strong engagement from participating entities and professionals interested in the future of cities.

Eng. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Thumairi, Riyadh Municipality’s Deputy for Digital Transformation and Smart Cities, took part in the session titled “A Pathway to City-to-City Cooperation.” He presented insights on the role of digital innovation and smart governance in supporting urban transformation and enhancing quality of life, emphasizing the importance of cross-city partnerships in exchanging solutions and developing more efficient practical approaches.

The session built on the first edition of the AECD Dialogue, hosted earlier in Riyadh, addressing the significance of urban diplomacy and its role in enhancing discourse around urban innovation particularly in areas related to digital transformation, infrastructure financing, environmental sustainability, and public service improvement. It also served as a preparatory milestone for the upcoming edition of the dialogue scheduled to be held in Madrid in 2027.

The session touched on several key themes, including strengthening Arab–European cooperation through the AECD initiative, urban innovation as an entry point for sustainable development, activating urban dialogue to develop joint solutions, and the role of smart governance in improving services. It further discussed the preparations for the 2027 Madrid edition and showcased various city experiences in implementing sustainable digital solutions.

Riyadh Municipality’s participation reflects its commitment to modern urban development based on innovation and international partnerships, contributing to enhancing quality of life in the capital and supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to build globally competitive cities integrated within an advanced urban cooperation network.