The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing today achieved a new milestone in the digital transformation of municipal services by reaching the "Innovation" level in the Digital Transformation Index for 2024 launched by the Digital Government Authority. This achievement was announced during the current session of the Digital Government Authority Forum on the sidelines of the Internet Governance Forum. This recognition is a result of the continuous efforts in the field of digital transformation, the adoption of emerging technologies, and generative artificial intelligence through the activation of smart municipalities, which resulted in more than 30 smart uses through more than 555 services used by more than 14 million users. Additionally, raising the adoption of Municipalities for key services to 87% and increasing the efficiency of supervisory work in commercial activities to 90% and 87% in construction activities. The ministry also received the Excellence Certificate in the National Institutional Framework, and the Funeral Services received the Excellence Certificate as one of the best government services, which helps alleviate the burden on the deceased's family in burial procedures. These achievements are the fruits of the ministry's digital transformation efforts, aiming to provide an integrated digital experience across all its platforms. The goal is to develop its digital service system and leverage smart technologies to serve citizens and residents of cities, enhancing the quality of services provided to them.

Riyadh, February 2025 – In a move that reinforces its leading role in the digital transformation of cities, Balady participated in the LEAP 2025 conference under the umbrella of NHC INNOVATION, where it had a pioneering presence in the field of digital solutions and innovations. It showcased numerous digital products such as maps and Balady Lens, in addition to the digital twin as a national enabler for smart cities. During the conference, Balady signed a series of strategic partnerships aimed at developing smart infrastructure, improving the use of geospatial data and enabling innovative digital solutions. The partnerships included a memorandum of cooperation with the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, the Royal Commission for Mecca City and Holy Sites, and the General Water Authority, with the aim of employing modern technologies to improve asset and facility management, develop smart solutions that enhance resource efficiency and promote sustainability. Balady also signed memorandums of cooperation with leading technology companies, including "Zain Saudi Arabia," which specializes in communication solutions, to develop a digital infrastructure based on the latest technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT), contributing to improved monitoring of public facilities and enhancing the efficiency of municipal services through smart solutions based on real-time data. Additionally, Balady signed a memorandum of cooperation with "SCAI", one of the Public Investment Fund companies, to apply artificial intelligence technologies in geospatial data analysis, improve urban planning processes, provide advanced solutions to predict traffic congestion, and manage natural crises effectively. Furthermore, Balady signed a memorandum of cooperation with "Ard Group" to develop 3D digital models of cities, allowing government entities and investors to explore development opportunities, analyze urban patterns, support sustainable expansion plans, and improve quality of life. Balady affirmed that these partnerships represent a significant step towards building sustainable smart cities, where digital solutions contribute to improving urban planning, supporting data-based decision-making, and achieving Vision 2030 in developing smarter and more innovative urban environments. It is worth mentioning that during the conference, Balady was the primary enabler of interactive maps through the "Indoor Navigation" feature, confirming the superiority of Balady maps over other applications, as they covered more than 50 locations within the conference halls, spaces, and wings. This contributed to enhancing visitor experiences and providing an easy and convenient user journey. The Balady application can be downloaded to benefit from its multiple features through the link: https://balady.go.link/iAqeE

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing launched the campaign "Because it's Balady", a step aimed at establishing a culture of compliance with municipal regulations and standards in all Saudi Arabian cities. This campaign represents an ambitious direction to develop cities, improve the efficiency of facilities and services, and promote environmental sustainability, which positively reflects on the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors, making Saudi cities a role model regionally and internationally. The ministry explained in a statement that the campaign focuses on achieving a set of key objectives, most notably raising awareness among individuals and institutions about the importance of compliance and its direct impact on improving the urban landscape, finding innovative and sustainable solutions, and enhancing the partnership between the community and government entities. The campaign aims to facilitate procedures related to the compliance of individuals and establishments with regulations through the use of modern technological tools, such as the "Balady" platform, which provides integrated digital services to support compliance and simplify procedures. Sief bin Salem Al-Suwailem, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, confirmed that "Because it's Balady" campaign comes within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to improve the quality of life in Saudi cities and promote environmental sustainability by establishing a culture of compliance with municipal regulations. Al-Suwailem emphasized that the campaign is a shared responsibility, contributing to the aspirations of Saudi cities to be developed and safe, with a sustainable urban environment, and asserting that the campaign helps build national awareness that supports comprehensive development, making Saudi cities a global model to be proud of. He pointed out that the campaign targets various categories, including applicants for building permits, project and property owners, engineering design and supervision offices, which play a major role in applying technical standards, as well as providers of waste transport services to ensure proper disposal, and contractors who are a key element in implementing regulations on the ground. Through this campaign, the ministry aspires to make compliance an integral part of the culture of individuals and institutions with the aim of achieving a long-term vision that contributes to the sustainability of urban development. The campaign revolves around developmental and social roles, enhancing the creation of integrated urban environments that encourage investment, stimulate community participation, and support the local economy by improving municipal services, regulating waste management, and achieving sustainability. The campaign seeks to promote a sense of national responsibility by highlighting the close relationship between compliance and improving the quality of life in the community. This campaign is a key part of the ministry's efforts to achieve the goals of the Quality of Life Program emanating from the Kingdom's Vision 2030, and compliance with municipal regulations and standards contributes to enhancing the health and safety of the environment and improving the efficiency of public services.

In a world where technological advancements are accelerating, daily life has become easier and more flexible thanks to technology. In this context, the "Balady" application comes as an innovative step towards achieving this goal, offering a range of new services that meet the needs of business owners and commercial entities in an efficient and innovative manner, as well as catering to the needs of society members. The application provides many services for commercial entities, with one of the most important being the "Commercial License Issuance" service, which has been linked with the relevant authorities. Allowing customers to easily conduct various commercial activities. Additionally, the application offers other services that facilitate the execution of business activities for commercial entities, such as the “Commercial Building Compliance Certificate”, aiming to improve the urban landscape by ensuring compliance with regulations and requirements approved by the Ministry of Municipalities & Housing. Furthermore, the application provides the service of obtaining “Health Certificates” for workers in the food and beverage sector, as obtaining a health certificate is essential for starting and operating such businesses regularly. Thanks to this service, customers can easily obtain the necessary documents without the need to visit government agencies. Moreover, the application also features automated municipal services that facilitate the experience of business owners and enhance their participation in national economic development. Additionally, "Balady" provides access to daily services needed by city residents to improve their quality of life across all regions of the kingdom. Explore "Balady" services now and embark on completing your tasks and managing your daily services by downloading the application through the following link: : https://bit.ly/3xrLHhi