The Faculty of Architecture and Planning  at King Abdulaziz University marked World Cities Day with a series of educational and awareness-raising activities, held on Sunday, November 2, 2025, under the patronage of Prof. Mohammed Kabli, Vice President for Educational Affairs.

The celebration included a keynote dialogue titled “Urban Planning: A Way of Life”, delivered by Eng. Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Ruhailli, Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning at the Madinah Municipality. Additional highlights included a knowledge-based competition titled “The Knowledge Challenge” and a multimedia showcase reflecting the outcomes of Urban October.

Empowering Urban Literacy and Student Engagement

The event aimed to deepen students’ understanding of sustainable urban planning, livable cities, and the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in shaping future urban environments. Specialized lectures and workshops provided students with opportunities to engage in dialogue, ask critical questions, and explore real-world applications.

The initiative also reinforced the faculty’s contribution to Saudi Vision 2030, particularly in promoting cities with enhanced quality of life and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Urban October Highlights

During Urban October, the faculty organized:

            •           13 lectures

            •           Over 2,000 attendees

            •           A 150% increase in social media engagement, with more than 33,000 interactions

Exhibition & Showcase

The accompanying exhibition featured:

            •           A 3D printing demonstration

            •           A student design gallery

            •           A custom urban corridor installation

            •           Multimedia storytelling on urban issues

The event concluded with calls to make the celebration an annual tradition and expand collaboration with external partners. Sponsors, speakers, and participants were honored at a closing ceremony.