Three Saudi Cities Join UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities

Three Saudi cities Riyadh, AlUla and Riyadh Al Khabra have officially joined UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities, marking a major stride in the Kingdom’s efforts to promote lifelong learning and future-ready skills. Their addition brings Saudi Arabia’s total number of UNESCO-recognized Learning Cities to eight, following Jubail, Yanbu, Madinah, Al Ahsa and King Abdullah Economic City.

UNESCO’s 2025 update confirmed the inclusion of the three cities after they met international standards for embedding learning across daily life from classrooms and workplaces to homes and community spaces.

According to the organisation, these cities offer dynamic educational environments that support workforce reskilling and upskilling, boost literacy for individuals who missed early schooling opportunities, prepare communities for an AI-driven future, and cultivate a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The recognition directly supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritises education, digital readiness, and the development of human capital as pillars of national transformation. By expanding lifelong learning systems and accelerating access to future skills, the newly admitted cities are set to play a crucial role in building Saudi Arabia’s knowledge-based and diversified economy.