Minister Al-Hogail Discusses Cooperation and Expertise Exchange with Spain’s Housing, Digital Transformation Ministers

Minister of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail met on Monday in Madrid with Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda Isabel García and Minister of Digital Transformation and Civil Service José Luis Belmonte. The discussions addressed means of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Spain in the sectors of housing, municipal affairs and urban development in the presence of the Saudi Ambassador to Spain Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin.

During the meeting with the the Minister of Housing and Urban Agenda, Ms. Isabel Rodríguez García, Al-Hogail was briefed on Spanish experiences in housing and urban development as well as a range of development projects implemented in several Spanish cities. Al-Hogail affirmed Saudi Arabia’s keenness to explore successful practices and transfer Saudi experiences for the purpose of exchanging expertise.

Moreover, Al-Hogail underlined the Kingdom’s successes in the sector of housing and urban development, highlighting the sector's restructuring, system and legislation development, and procedures improvement. Al-Hogail also shed light on the advancement of the real estate financing sector, projects, and residential suburbs, which contributed to increasing citizens' ownership rates of housing units.

He noted that the Kingdom is working on numerous projects and supportive programs in urban development to include three Saudi cities in the top 100 livable cities in the world.

During his meeting with Minister Belmonte, Al-Hogail was briefed on the Spanish experience in digital transformation in the municipal services sector and the successes achieved through the "Digital Spain Agenda 2026." Al-Hogail expressed his aspirations to enhance cooperation, exchange expertise, and successful practices between the two countries in this vital sector.

He said that Saudi Arabia has provided a pioneering global model in the field of digital services in various sectors, achieving numerous accomplishments and securing international awards in both the municipal and housing sectors. Al-Hogail highlighted the integrated digital experience developed by the Ministry to facilitate beneficiaries' access to housing units and to benefit from municipal services with ease and simplicity. He also underscored the Kingdom’s efforts in employing artificial intelligence technologies to enhance the urban landscape.

Al-Hogail has embarked on an official three-day visit to Spain from April 15 to 17. During this visit, he will meet with several high-level officials in the Spanish government to strengthen bilateral relations and review the prominent successful experiences between both countries.