RIYADH, 20 October 2005 — Riyadh and Jubail Industrial City have been shortlisted as two of the world’s top three leadership cities by the World Leadership Forum (WLF).
The capital was nominated in the health category for its specialist hospitals while Jubail was selected in the economy and employment category as a result of its having grown to an already award-wining industrial giant from a small fishing and pearling village.
Applications on behalf of both cities were submitted to WLF by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) in August.
The WLF had earlier asked leaders in 400 of the world’s largest cities to submit synopsis of their most successful projects. These projects covered a wide range of activities spanning the environment, urban renewal, housing, health, town planning, architecture, civil engineering, education, and development of the young, the economy, and employment.
The application for Riyadh paid tribute to the Kingdom’s leadership in formulating the national health care policy, supporting medical research that positively impacts global medical policy and practice and maintaining a competitive medical education and training program.
The submission focused on the city’s specialized medical and health care institutions including King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, King Abdul Aziz Medical City, the Armed Forces Hospital and Security Forces Hospital as well as the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital.
Jubail’s selection in the economy and employment category was based on the city’s transformation from tiny village to industrial giant within three decades.
SAGIA outlined the milestones of development in the development of Jubail as city planning, infrastructure development, regulatory environment establishment, human resource development, education and health care facilities and construction.
“The quality of these projects is astonishing, and represents the best current thinking in city leadership globally. What is especially heartening is the way in which city leaders are tackling traditional problems with non-traditional and often brilliant new ideas; the result is often a huge improvement in health and living standards,” said Malcolm Turner, president of the World Leadership Forum.
