Saudi Arabia And Spain Forge Ahead With Housing And Urban Development Cooperation

During a significant meeting in Madrid on Monday, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, engaged in pivotal discussions with Spain's Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel García, and Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, José Luis Belmonte. The focus of these discussions was on fostering cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Spain in the crucial sectors of housing, municipal affairs, and urban development. This meeting was notably attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Spain, Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin.

Al-Hogail's interaction with Minister García provided him with insights into Spain's housing and urban development strategies, including a variety of development projects across Spanish cities. The Saudi minister expressed the Kingdom's interest in adopting successful practices from Spain while also sharing Saudi Arabia's advancements in these sectors. He emphasized the Kingdom's achievements in restructuring housing and urban development sectors, improving systems, legislation, and procedures, which have notably increased the homeownership rates among citizens.

The discussions also covered the Kingdom's efforts to include three Saudi cities among the top 100 livable cities worldwide through numerous projects and supportive programs aimed at urban development. In his meeting with Minister Belmonte, Al-Hogail explored the Spanish experience in digital transformation within municipal services, highlighting the "Digital Spain Agenda 2026" and its successes.

Al-Hogail shared Saudi Arabia's ambition to further enhance bilateral cooperation and exchange expertise in digital transformation, pointing out the Kingdom's global leadership in digital services across various sectors. He detailed the integrated digital experiences developed by his ministry to streamline access to housing units and municipal services for beneficiaries. Additionally, he mentioned the use of artificial intelligence technologies to improve the urban landscape in Saudi Arabia.

The official three-day visit of Al-Hogail to Spain, from April 15 to 17, aims at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. This visit includes meetings with several high-level Spanish government officials to review successful experiences and practices that could benefit both nations.

With inputs from SPA