The Architecture and Design Arts Commission announced that the city of Riyadh has joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of design, after the organization approved the results of evaluating the cities applied for joining the list for the year 2025 AD. This comes as a confirmation of Riyadh's growing status as a regional center for creativity and innovation in the fields of design.

This achievement is the fruit of integrated efforts led by the Architecture and Design Arts Commission affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with a number of ,vernment, academic, non-profit and private sector entities, to prepare the nomination file that highlighted the vitality of the design scene in the Saudi capital and its diversity between architecture, urban design, industrial and interior design, product design, digital design and other fields of contemporary creativity.

The CEO of the Architecture and Design Arts Commission, Dr. Sumaya Al-Sulaiman, confirmed that Riyadh joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of design represents a historic step reflecting the Kingdom's ambition to make the capital a global model to be emulated in employing creativity to serve urban and cultural development, noting that this international recognition comes as a result of the National Strategy for Architecture and Design in building an environment that stimulates innovation and empowers Saudi competencies in various design fields.

She pointed out that the Commission seeks to establish the position of Riyadh as a global capital for design and a model in architecture and design and a source of inspiration for other cities, through initiatives and programs supporting creative practices and enhancing cooperation between ,vernment, private and academic sectors, and empowering Saudi creators to participate effectively in enriching the sector in harmony with the targets of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, emphasizing the importance of the role of design as a tool for sustainable development and improving quality of life.

This joining reflects Riyadh's status as a creative city in design that combines originality and renewal, and represents a model for sustainable cultural development based on creativity and design. It also confirms the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing its cultural presence on the international stage, and investing creative energies in achieving the targets of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 which puts culture and creativity at the core of national development.

The Architecture and Design Arts Commission aims through registering Riyadh within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to highlight the Kingdom's position as a leading global destination in innovation and urban creativity and enhance its presence on the global design map, in addition to highlighting national capabilities and enabling Saudi designers and architects to exchange international experiences and refine their skills, through participation in the creative cities network which includes leading global cities in this field.

The choice of Riyadh came as a reflection of its distinguished position as a national capital with a rich historical, cultural and architectural heritage, and a center for urban transformation and innovation in the region, as the city embraces a unique architectural scene that combines modernity and originality in design, which contributed to formulating a unique design and urban identity. It is also distinguished by the presence of major projects and initiatives in the fields of urban and engineering design, in addition to academic and research centers that contribute to developing national capabilities in the fields of architecture and design.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network is one of the global initiatives that aim to enhance cooperation between cities that invest in culture and creativity as key drivers of sustainable development.