Strengthening Australia–Saudi Cooperation in Urban Development and City Innovation
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness, the Mayor of Riyadh, the Australian Saudi Business Council/Forum (ASBC/F) had the honour of hosting the first-ever municipal delegation from Riyadh Municipality to Australia, led by His Excellency Hussain Al-Sudairy, Deputy Mayor of Riyadh.
The visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening institutional ties between Australia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, opening new channels for cooperation across urban development, sustainability, digital transformation, and modern city services.
The program commenced with a high-level session focused on meaningful knowledge exchange and open dialogue, setting the tone for a week of structured engagements with government, municipal leaders, and industry stakeholders. Discussions highlighted shared priorities in city planning, infrastructure development, smart-city solutions, and community-focused urban growth—areas central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda and Australia’s urban innovation expertise.
High-Level Engagement Across Government, Cities and Industry
As part of the visit, the delegation engaged with senior policymakers at NSW Parliament, where The Hon. Sophie Cotsis MP shared insights into state priorities and policy direction. The Hon. Jihad Dib MP further contributed perspectives on digital government and the evolution of public service delivery.
Across Greater Sydney, municipal leaders, including Mayor Ned Mannoun of Liverpool and Lord Mayor Michael Zaiter of Parramatta, shared their cities’ development strategies, governance approaches, and urban renewal experiences, offering valuable local perspectives on city growth and transformation.
Industry engagement formed a core pillar of the program. Tony Lombardo, CEO of Lendlease Australia, provided an overview of major precinct development and innovation-led urban projects. The Western Sydney International Airport team presented a forward-looking briefing on one of Australia’s most transformative infrastructure developments, while BINAH Construction, led by Amen Zoabi, shared practical insights from the construction and development sector.
Each engagement added depth and perspective to the delegation’s visit, reinforcing shared ambitions to learn, collaborate, and build long-term partnerships between Australian and Saudi institutions.
The program was supported by ASBC/F leadership and partners, including Sam Jamsheedi, Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon GAICD, Andrew Lockie, Abd Hakmi, Moin Anwar, and Atif AlOthri, who reaffirmed the Council/Forum’s commitment to facilitating sustained, high-value cooperation between both nations.
