New york: Saudi Arabia's Third Voluntary National Review (VNR) highlighted the growing role of endowments (awqaf) in supporting sustainable development, emphasizing the contributions of the General Authority for Awqaf in directing endowment returns toward priority groups and sectors while expanding their impact in housing, education, healthcare, and development finance.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the authority's contributions were featured in the report presented by the Kingdom during the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The report reviewed progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. It also marked the first time endowments were included directly and extensively in the Kingdom's Voluntary National Review.
The report noted that development spending from endowments under the authority's supervision exceeded SAR200 million between 2023 and 2025. More than SAR100 million was allocated to housing programs benefiting 3,500 families, while over SAR100 million supported direct and indirect assistance in education, healthcare, and microfinance.
The report also highlighted several development partnerships and initiatives, including a SAR1 billion investment portfolio established in partnership with Al-Othaim Charity Foundation. Of that amount, SAR548.5 million was allocated to support 8,235 beneficiaries through 79 projects. It also highlighted the "Daem" financing product, valued at SAR150 million, launched in partnership with the Social Development Bank and the Associations Support Fund to provide sustainable financing for nonprofit organizations.
The review also highlighted geographic equity initiatives supporting the establishment of endowment entities in underserved regions. It further showcased the authority's efforts to empower persons with disabilities through the expansion of the Endowment Autism Center in Madinah in 2023 and the launch of the "Digital Factory" in 2024, the first endowment-funded laboratory dedicated to developing assistive technologies.
The report also highlighted the work of the Ehsan platform through partnerships with several entities, including the General Authority for Awqaf. It noted the role of the platform's endowment fund in investing charitable capital and distributing returns to more than 1,600 civil society organizations.
These achievements reflect the growing role of endowments as a sustainable development tool and their ability to transform endowment returns into lasting social impact that serves priority groups and supports the sustainability of the nonprofit sector.
The authority works to strengthen, govern, preserve, and develop the endowment sector while raising awareness through innovative endowment products and services. Its goal is to position the sector as a leader in sustainable development locally and globally by fulfilling donors' conditions, adopting best practices, and enhancing the economic and social impact of endowments.
