MADINAH: The Madinah Region Development Authority has presented Saudi Arabia’s experience in localising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development held at the UN headquarters in New York.
Speaking during a session titled “Transformation from the Ground Up: Acting at the Local Level,” the authority outlined how advanced data-driven planning is being used to support urban development, improve public services and enhance the quality of life across the Madinah region.
Engineer Abdulrahman Ibrahim, Executive Director of Data and Innovation at the authority, said the region has adopted a pioneering approach that moves beyond traditional broad development indicators by using detailed neighbourhood-level spatial data.
The methodology enables planners to identify development gaps more accurately, support evidence-based policymaking and ensure that no communities are overlooked in the development process.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the authority also highlighted its integrated urban data analysis system, which aligns local development planning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Officials said the framework provides a more precise understanding of conditions at the community level, allowing resources and policies to be directed where they are needed most.
During the forum, the Madinah Region Development Authority proposed the creation of an “Alliance of Actors”, a global initiative designed to strengthen cooperation among governments and organisations involved in sustainable urban development.
The proposed alliance would be built around three core pillars – regulatory, governance and technical cooperation. It aims to improve the alignment of policies and regulations, establish stronger governance frameworks and develop technical tools and methodologies that help cities bridge the gap between official development reports and on-the-ground realities.
According to the authority, the initiative would also encourage knowledge-sharing, strengthen capacity-building among cities worldwide and accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting more effective local implementation.
The presentation formed part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to showcase innovative approaches to sustainable urban planning and reinforce the importance of local action in delivering the UN’s global development agenda.
