Madinah: Madinah won the 2025 Shanghai Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities in its third cycle, recognizing progress in urban innovation, sustainability, and quality of life in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The recognition coincided with the Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025 in Bogot¡.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the award highlights Madinah’s people-centered urban development model, built on digital transformation, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

Madinah Mayor and CEO of Al Madinah Region Development Authority Fahad Albulihshi stated that the achievement crowns efforts to build an integrated, data-driven urban ecosystem grounded in smart planning, environmental sustainability, and quality of life.

Flagship projects include the ‘Manarah’ Urban Data Platform, the ‘Madinah Buses’ public-transport system, the environmental rehabilitation of Wadi Al-Aqiq, and the smart-city strategy.

The Shanghai Award is organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in partnership with the Shanghai Municipality. The results of the third cycle were announced during World Cities Day in Bogot¡, recognizing cities that are advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the city level.