REVIEW OF REGIONAL PLANNING IN SAUDI ARABIA First published in Saudia Arabia in 2016 by Future Saudi Cities Programme Copyright © Future Saudi Cities Programme All rights reserved Produced by the Urban planning and Design Branch Future Saudi Cities Programme United Nations Building Diplomatic Quarters Riyadh, KSA Tel: 011-488-5301 [email protected] futuresaudicities.org ISBN Number: Acknowledgements Program Director: Editors: Tarek El-Sheik Task Manager: Adel Aldosary, Ayman Elhefnawi, Ulrich Graute Contributors and Reviewers: Ayman Elhefnawi Adel Aldosary, Anas Almughairy, Hatem Taha, Hatem AlKhathlan, Jamal Shogdar, Design and Layout: John Omwamba, Khaled AlNeiffai, Remy Sietchiping, Tarek El-Sheik, Ulrich Graute Financial Support and Technical Contribution: Alaa Assamawy Future Saudi Cities Program, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Disclaimer The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers of boundaries. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the United Nations, or its Member States. REVIEW OF REGIONAL PLANNING IN SAUDI ARABIA LIST OF CONTENT List of Content 2 Executive Summary 6 Introduction 18 Part 1 International Cases and Lessons Learnt for Saudi Arabia 23 Regional Planning in Germany: The case of Joint 1.1 26 Planning in Berlin/Brandenburg 1.1.1 Regional planning in Germany 26 1.1.1.1 The planning system 26 1.1.1.2 Regional planning 28 1.1.1.3 Spatial planning 28 1.1.1.4 Planning tools 30 1.1.1.5 State spatial planning coordination tools 30 1.1.1.6 Informal tools 31 1.1.1.7 Metropolitan regions 31 1.1.2 The Berlin-Brandenburg Region 32 1.1.3 Regional planning in Berlin-Brandenburg 33 1.1.4 Lessons learnt from Berlin-Brandenburg 39 Regional Planning in South Korea: Planning in 1.2 41 The Seoul Metropolitan Area 1.2.1 Regional planning in South Korea 41 1.2.2 The Seoul Metropolitan Area 43 1.2.3 Regional Planning in the Seoul Metropolitan Area 44 2.3.1 The Seoul Metropolitan Area Readjustment Plan 44 2.3.2 The 2030 Seoul Plan 47 1.2.4 Lessons learnt from the Seoul Metropolitan Area 52 Regional Planning in Malaysia: The South Johor 1.3 53 Economic Region (SJER) 1.3.1 Regional planning in Malaysia 53 3.1.1 Who is in charge of (regional) planning in Malaysia? 53 3.1.2 Regional planning by the national government 54 1.3.2 The South Johor Economic Region (SJER) 56 1.3.3 Regional planning in The South Johor Economic Region (SJER) 57 1.3.4 Lessons learnt from the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) 64 Regional Planning in South Africa: Planning in The 1.4 65 Northern Cape Province 1.4.1 Regional planning in South Africa 65 1.4.2 The Northern Cape Province 68 1.4.3 Regional planning in the Northern Cape Province 70 1.4.4 Lessons learnt from the Northern Cape Province 74 1.5 Regional Planning in Canada: Planning in The Greater Golden Horseshoe 75 1.5.1 Regional planning in Canada 75 1.5.2 The Greater Golden Horseshoe 76 1.5.3 Regional planning in the Greater Golden Horseshoe 77 1.5.4 Lessons learnt from the Greater Golden Horseshoe 84 1.6 Results of the Comparative Analysis of The Five Regional Plans 85 Part 2 Review of regional planning in Saudi Arabia 86 2.1 The Regional Plan of the Riyadh Region 2.1 The Arriyadh (Riyadh) Region - Transforming the Desert into Metropolis 88 2.1.1.1 Settlements and Transportation 89 2.1.1.2 Environment and economic prosperity 91 2.1.2 The Regional Plan for the Riyadh Region 93 2.1.2.1 Governance and public services of the Arriyadh Region during 93 the preparation of the Strategic Plan for the Arriyadh Region (SPAR) 2.1.2.2 The Strategic Plan for the Arriyadh Region (SPAR) 95 2.1.3. Limitation and opportunities in the region 97 2.1.4. Vertical integration assessment 101 2.1.5. Regulatory and institutional mechanism at the regional level 103 2.1.6. Overall progress in implementing the regional plan 105 2.1.7. Overall review of the plan vis-à-vis lessons learnt from international level 107 2.1.8. Policy recommendations 109 2.2 The Regional Plan of the Eastern Region 112 2.3 Madinah Area Regional plan 142 2.4 The Regional Plan of AlQassim 171 25 The Makkah Regional Plan 185 Part 3 Policy recommendations 223 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Policy Recommendations Gathered from International Case Studies 3.2.1 Common features of regions and regional planning 3.2.2 Policy recommendation related to specific international cases 3.2.2.1 Regional Planning in Germany: The case of Joint Planning in Berlin and Brandenburg 3.2.2.2 Regional Planning in South Korea: Planning in The Seoul Metropolitan Area 3.2.2.3 Regional Planning in Malaysia: The South Johor Economic Region (SJER 3.2.2.4 Regional Planning in South Africa: Planning in The Northern Cape Province 3.2.2.5 Regional Planning in Canada: Planning in The Greater Golden Horseshoe 3.3 Regions and Regional Planning in Saudi Arabia 3.3.1 Arriyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Sharqiya and Qassim – Summary of findings 3.3.2 Plans without Planning- Regions and their Developing Role in the National System of Planning 3.3.3 Capacity Building for Regional Planning 3.3.4 The National Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Regional Planning 3.3.5 Spatial Planning beyond Administrative Borders 3.3.6 Standard components of regional plans 3.4 The Way Forward - Reforming Regional Planning as Part of the National Planning System 3.4.1 Immediate actions required 3.4.2 Saudi Arabia’s Spatial Strategy and the National Framework for Regional Planning BOX: Project Ideas in support of the Way Forward 3.4.3 Institutions for Regional Planning Part 4 References 5 List of tables and figures 6 List of abbreviations Annex I Overview Table: Regional Planning International Annex II The value of coordination mechanisms to implement 008 REVIEW OF REGIONAL PLANNING IN SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Towards the future of regional planning in Saudi We also know a lot about economic activities in the Arabia: Supporting the development of regional regions but statistics are not always available or they strengths, keeping an eye on the larger picture and are incomplete. It needs a common vision and strategy. building capacities Saudi Arabia has to prepare for dwindling revenues from oil and natural gas and to diversify its economy its In the second half of 2015 and in early 2016 the Future needs are more detailed picture not only about the main Saudi Cities Programmes (FSCP) carried out a review sectors of the economy but also about emerging trends: of regional plans and system of regional planning in the » Firstly, great ideas often start small. Therefore, Kingdom. UN HABITAT in cooperation with the Ministry regional planning needs to stay alert on what is of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MOMRA) set up a team of developing, where are new potentials and needs national and international experts. The team reviewed To identify potentials for sustainable economic international case (part 1), regional plans from Saudi development it needs a better understanding of the Arabia (part 2) and formulated policy recommendation micro-level of the economy, society and environment. (part 3). This book is the consolidated report as compiled For example, the development of tourisms doesn’t by the international expert Dr. Ulrich Graute. depend on the number of hotels but on an integrated concept linking the potentials of the areas with Some of the regions of the Kingdom have a long history, interests of potential visitors. For the promotion of are densely populated and are economically very active. economic activities and to increase the wellbeing of the people authorities need to understand carefully regional planning in Saudi Arabia is that while we know where are demand and potentials for e.g. for start- Nonetheless, one of the main findings of the review of a lot about the parts and especially about the cities of ups and what do they need to start prospering. the regions we don’t know enough about the regions of » Secondly, the regional level is the intermediate the Kingdom, their strengths and potential for future level between the local and the national level development. This conclusion may surprise. Certainly, and this intermediate function is gaining weight the review of regional plans, interviews and additional in an increasingly complex and dynamic context documentation from planning authorities and academia With a growing population and a diversifying revealed plenty of data on population, cities, technical infrastructures, health and educational institutions. a national perspective all relevant developments economy it is increasingly difficult to monitor from REVIEW OF REGIONAL PLANNING IN SAUDI ARABIA 011 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY on the ground and to provide support wherever spatial plan to the megacity of the Seoul Metropolitan needed. This is often easier from a regional level Area that still lacks an integrated and sustainable which is more close to local activities. At the same coordination of its regional development. It includes time the regional level is still above the myriad Berlin-Brandenburg as an example for joint regional of local challenges and opportunities. Thus, planning of two otherwise separate regions and this regional planning can look at the larger picture parts reviews also the South Johor Economic Region and coordinate planning and development.