RIYADH: Support from government and the social sector is key to the transformation of cities in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, experts say.

The advice comes after only one of the region’s urban centers was ranked in the top 30 of the new Global Cities Index, which is compiled by Kearney, a leading global management and consulting firm. Competition is intense to claim a high position on the index, which included 151 world cities in total. However Dubai, which ranked 27th, was the only Gulf city to earn a place in the upper reaches of the list, while Riyadh was the top Saudi city in 73rd place, followed by Jeddah in 85th place.

“This year’s 10th edition of the Global Cities Report covers 19 cities in the Middle East, including six Saudi cities — with the addition of Dammam, Makkah, Madinah and Abha — reflecting the growing importance of these cities globally,” said Antoine Nasr, government practice leader and partner at Kearney Middle East.

He noted that as a result of Vision 2030, Saudi cities are well positioned to rise in the rankings regionally and globally. For this to be achieved, however, he said city authorities will need to adapt current efforts and redesign their value propositions both for businesses and residents.

Given budgetary pressures, Nasr said, it will be critical for Saudi cities to redirect investment toward a sustainable, future-oriented recovery, including the creation of markets, in partnership with the private sector, that generate new forms of public value.

“Each Saudi city has its own specific opportunities to improve performance, including distinct strengths that can be leveraged to enhance their unique value propositions,” he added.

“Riyadh and Jeddah, for example, respectively hold the first and second positions among GCC cities in the human capital dimension — a strength that has proven to be a leading indicator of future performance in the Global Cities Report rankings.”

The report accompanying the latest index explored the disruptive effect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on cities, and highlighted opportunities for innovative urban administrations to harness the dynamics of the changing environment and emerge from the health crisis ahead of traditional global leaders. It walks cities through a way out of crisis and helps them to get ready for the future.

Mazen Bakhurji, deputy mayor assistant at Eastern Province municipality, said one of the challenges facing Saudi cities is the horizontal increase in imbalance of population density.

He said cities should apply a transit-oriented development planning and design strategy, a type of urban development that maximizes the amount of residential, business and leisure space within walking distance of homes. Other challenges include insufficient services and rising infrastructure costs, he added, noting that obstacles and challenges often differ from one city to the next.

The urban planning general manager said that the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs took part in a UN Human Settlement Program to study the future of the Kingdom’s cities. The study proposed that measurement indexes for decision-makers should be designed to help them assess city achievement and management, but also contribute to the decision-making process.

The assessment is composed of five dimensions: Productivity, development of infrastructure, social integration, environmental sustainability and urban governance.

These are the fundamental dimensions for sustainable city development, Bakhurji said, stressing the need to measure performance through a capital improvement plan that accounts for the expectations of each city.

One of the roles of city authorities is to design key performance indicators, provide services and ensure sustainability and progress. “This can be done by coordinating with service providers to identify the priorities of development projects and ensure they are efficient and as planned,” Bakhurji said.

He said social engagement is instrumental for any city that seeks “pioneer status,” adding that the “social role” of cities — through the private sector and social and volunteer groups — is vital in order to meet needs and demands and work to achieve humanization.

Bakhurji said that the Quality of Life Program, which is part of Vision 2030, contributes to improving the quality of Saudi cities, focusing on three main urban centers.

Faisal Al-Fadl, secretary-general of the Saudi Green Building Forum, said the fact that cities are not included in the indicators “does not reflect on whether they are competitive or not.”

“The cities that were underscored should comply with the importance of the indicators as a reflection of existing and future developments toward achieving sustainable development goals, as well as green systems,” he said.

Al-Fadl, a specialist in urban and regional planning, stressed the important role of city agencies in collaborative governance and the long-term planning needed to transform the region’s cities.

“They should undertake national and cross-regional urbanization planning to balance economic growth and preserve high-value agricultural land and ecosystem services.

“They should also develop zero-slum cities through land-use planning that prevents formation and rehabilitation, and include resource-efficient, disaster-resistant and multi-story buildings.

“Agencies should promote resource efficiency and reporting at the systems level through innovative and profitable exchanges such as the SAAF rating systems by the Saudi Green Building Forum, an NGO in consultative status with the UN on renewable energy, clean water, waste and infrastructure,” he said.

The role of the public is also important for urban policies and expanding infrastructure, while also balancing social, economic and environmental projects in cities, Al-Fadl said. He added that there are “remarkable” projects like Green Riyadh, and vertical expansion in major areas that help push forward urban progress.

Al-Fadl said that city planning “defaults” must be made community-centric by moving from linear to circular models monitored by city planners. He added: “Countries should strive to regulate businesses and industries to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050, as part of efforts to lower temperatures by 1.5 degrees Celsius in cities.”