The cities of Riyadh and Jeddah achieved progress in the Global Liveability Index, as part of an annual report prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit of The Economist Group (EIU), in its classification of 140 cities based on an assessment of factors: stability, culture, environment, education, health care, and infrastructure.
According to the “livability” index, the city of Riyadh advanced by three ranks and ranked 103, and the city of Jeddah advanced four ranks and ranked 107 compared to 2022.
In order to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the Quality of Life Program works to include 3 Saudi cities among the top 100 cities in the world in livability indicators by 2030, by improving the quality of life of citizens, residents, visitors and tourists, by providing new options that enhance their participation in cultural, entertainment and sports activities. .
The concept of “livability” in the work document of the Quality of Life Program revolves around five axes that cover the main aspects of life. The first axis is the axis of infrastructure and transportation: infrastructure and transportation are essential elements for increasing social parity, because they are necessary to access workplaces, housing and services. It helps connect all areas, including peripheral areas, and the second axis is housing, urban design, and the environment: the best communities provide housing opportunities for individuals of all ages, income levels, and abilities, so that everyone can live in high-quality neighborhoods.
Through good urban design and an appropriate environmental context, citizens and residents can have better access to services and employment opportunities with the possibility of promoting healthy practices such as walking. The third is the focus of health care: health is an essential part of ensuring the quality of life of residents. Health conditions are generally measured based on indicators of health outcomes, such as the average age of the individual, the number of hospital beds, the prevalence of diabetes and obesity, the costs of health spending on families, and the fourth axis of economic and educational opportunities: material living standards are measured based on sub-aspects such as employment and education. and general access to economic opportunities, while the fifth axis came about security and the social environment: where security, along with the social environment, is a very important aspect in the lives of citizens and residents as it allows them to interact in society without hindrance, and security is mainly measured by the level of low crime rates and adherence to the application of regulations.
