Spain inspires urban development in Al Bayda
As part of the development of the Master Plan for the Governorate of Al Bayda, located in the metropolitan area of Dammam, a delegation from the Sharqia Regional Authority of Saudi Arabia visited Spain last week for a series of internal workshops focused on the Action Areas phase of the project.
The visit began in Madrid, where the delegation explored several urban transformation initiatives. Among them was Sueña Madrid, a strategic planning framework led by the Madrid City Council that promotes flexibility, sustainability, and citizen participation. Reference projects such as Madrid Río and Madrid Nuevo Norte were presented as examples of integrated urban renewal. The team also visited Valdebebas, a district adjacent to Madrid Airport, considered a model for scalable development strategies relevant to Al Bayda.
The final days took place in Bilbao, where the delegation participated in site visits across the municipality and attended a presentation on Bilbao Ría 2000—a public initiative launched in 1992 to revitalize the city’s post-industrial areas. Through coordinated planning and investment, it transformed key districts like Abandoibarra and Ametzola, integrating transport, public spaces, and cultural landmarks such as the Guggenheim Museum. The project is widely recognized as a benchmark in sustainable urban regeneration and metropolitan collaboration.
