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Riyadh Region Municipality launched the Riyadh Municipal Transformation Program, targeting to boost the city’s operational efficiency and keep pace with population growth and urban expansion, according to a statement. The initiative, launched on Saturday, aims to shift from the centralized model of managing urban affairs in the capital to a more decentralized approach to better serve “the unique characteristics of each geographical district of Riyadh,” according to the statement.
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The details: The new system is designed to operate on three levels. Central agencies in the municipality will take over planning and supervision, while the previous 16 sub-municipalities are now merged into five new district offices spread across the North, South, Central, East, and West of the city to deliver over 200 operational services within the geographic scope. District offices are tasked with issuing building permits, commercial licenses, land services, along with managing indirect services, including activities related to cleaning, lighting, landscaping, park maintenance, general monitoring, and handling reports within the district.
The program also launched 12 new Madinity Offices overseen by related district offices, set to be expanded to 20 in the future. Residents can access services from any Madinty Office outside their zone, as they’re located in multiple city parks where population is dense to make it easier for beneficiaries to engage.
The drivers: The initiative eyes coping with the changing course of Riyadh throughout the years, as its population grew from 3 mn in 2001 to currently about 7.5 mn, and its area increased from 1k km in 2001 to some 4k km in 2024, Program Director Abdullah Al Ansari said in an interview with Rotana’s Ya Hala (watch, runtime: 23:33). The rapid pace of urban development and ongoing projects in Riyadh also created a need to reassess municipality operations to improve the quality of services, Al Ansari added.
