13 October, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia achieved a historic milestone in urban health with the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognizing 16 Healthy Cities in the country. One-third of the nation's population – almost 9 million residents – now live in WHO-awarded Healthy Cities that provide an enabling environment for healthy lifestyles. This success, which includes the pioneering designation of Jeddah and Madinah as the first-ever Mega Healthy Cities in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, is a direct outcome of the Kingdom's commitment to Saudi Vision 2030 and its Quality of Life Programme.
"This recognition from WHO is a direct result of our leadership’s vision and unwavering commitment to placing human well-being at the heart of national development," said a representative from the Ministry of Health. "Under Saudi Vision 2030, we are not just building cities, we are cultivating healthy, vibrant communities for generations to come."
The Kingdom's success in integrating health promotion into all aspects of urban planning and governance is testament to the efficacy of the Health in All Policies approach that has established Saudi Arabia as a leader in creating sustainable, health-focused urban environments. WHO’s designation of Jeddah and Madinah as Mega Healthy Cities sets a new global benchmark for implementing WHO standards in large metropolitan areas and demonstrates the feasibility of comprehensive, health-promoting development at scale.
Saudi Arabia is actively sharing its experience. The Kingdom now hosts the Region’s first WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities that has supported the assessment of 14 cities in other countries, driving regional capacity-building and fostering a shared vision for resilient urban health, while promoting health and well-being.
WHO has commended Saudi Arabia's sustained investment in promoting health, well-being, quality of life and sustainable development. The Kingdom's commitment reaffirms that health and well-being are not just outcomes, they are essential foundations for sustainable urban futures in the Region and beyond.
Saudi Arabia’s successful drive to create healthier urban environments in collaboration with WHO and government and community partners is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 which aims to implement health-centric policies and projects across the Kingdom, improving the health and quality of life of all residents.
