Urban Development Priorities Platform (eUDP)
CLIENT: Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH)
LOCATION: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
STARTING YEAR: 2024
| The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH) engaged GPC to support the design and implementation of the Urban Development Priorities Platform (eUDP), a pioneering initiative aimed at institutionalizing urban management practices and enhancing development planning across cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The project aligns with the national initiative “Implementing the Concept of Urban Management and Urban Development Priorities,” which seeks to establish a unified framework for prioritizing urban development interventions at the local level.
The engagement focused on defining a comprehensive methodology for identifying, structuring, and prioritizing urban development programs and projects based on standardized criteria, planning weights, and performance indicators derived from urban observatories. GPC worked closely with MOMRAH and relevant stakeholders to establish an integrated approach that combines policy, planning standards, and digital platform capabilities to support evidence-based urban decision-making. A key component of the project was the development of a GeoSmart digital platform designed to manage and visualize urban development priorities spatially. The platform integrates with existing systems and datasets, enabling planners and decision-makers to assess development needs, compare scenarios, and align investments with national and local development strategies. The project also included benchmarking against international best practices, conducting workshops with stakeholders across public services and infrastructure sectors, and enhancing urban planning standards and criteria. These efforts ensured that the solution is aligned with global standards while tailored to the specific context and requirements of Saudi cities. Through this initiative, GPC enabled MOMRAH to establish a unified, data-driven framework for urban development prioritization, supported by a scalable GeoSmart platform that enhances planning efficiency, improves transparency, and supports strategic investment decisions across the Kingdom. |

