The housing and municipal services sector in Saudi Arabia is witnessing an unprecedented transformation, led by His Excellency Minister Majed Al-Hogail with direct support from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister. This transformation places citizen empowerment and enhancing quality of life at the forefront of priorities, achieving quantitative and qualitative milestones that accelerate the realization of Vision 2030 targets.
1. Accelerating Home Ownership: The Ultimate Goal for Stability The sector has succeeded in achieving a qualitative leap in home ownership rates among citizens, a strategic goal that supports social and economic stability for Saudi families. This leap was represented by introducing innovative and diverse financing options and programs that meet the needs and capabilities of various social segments. This calculated expansion ensures that Saudi housing becomes an engine for growth, not merely a service.
2. Municipal Financial Sustainability and Performance Efficiency Municipalities are gradually moving towards a stage of financial self-sufficiency. This is achieved by implementing modern policies that enhance financial and operational performance and increase returns. This approach aims to reach a break-even point between revenues and expenses, requiring strong governance and high-caliber national competencies to ensure efficient and effective resource management.
3. Citizen Empowerment and Local Economic Participation Economic empowerment of citizens is one of the most important outcomes of this transformation. Municipalities have diversified their initiatives to offer investment opportunities, ranging from allocated lands to contracts for operating facilities and parks. This approach has provided real economic opportunities for male and female citizens and contributed to diversifying family income sources, with a notable expansion in women's participation in municipal investment.
4. Strategic Integration: Al-Hogail and Al-Sheikh Serving Quality of Life The success of the Quality of Life vision requires concerted efforts. Here, the integration highlights the role of H.E. Al-Hogail in establishing solid infrastructure and urban quality, and the role of H.E. Advisor Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, in enriching these spaces through the entertainment and events ecosystem.
Turki Al-Sheikh’s Entertainment and Developmental Contributions: Al-Sheikh’s role is not limited to seasonal entertainment but extends to building a sustainable entertainment industry that raises the attractiveness of Saudi cities and supports the local economy through:
Permanent Entertainment Projects: Overseeing the creation of world-class entertainment zones that increase city attractiveness for domestic and international tourism.
Creating Seasonal and Permanent Jobs: The success of events like Riyadh Season in creating tens of thousands of jobs, directly supporting the economic empowerment goals proposed by the municipal sector.
Efficient Use of Municipal Facilities: Utilizing and developing many public facilities and lands provided by municipalities to transform them into massive event sites, thereby increasing the efficiency of government asset utilization.
This harmony ensures that Saudi cities are not just places for residence, but attractive and sustainable hubs that support the citizen's prosperity economically, socially, and recreationally.
Conclusion: Achievements Translating the Vision The achievements led by H.E. Majed Al-Hogail and his team, in fruitful integration with all sectors, primarily Entertainment led by H.E. Turki Al-Sheikh, are a living translation of Vision 2030. These accomplishments confirm that the Kingdom is moving with confident steps towards building a nation that uplifts the citizen and provides the highest levels of quality of life and stability
By: Abdulaziz Al-Faer CEO of North Hejaz Recruitment Company
