Riyadh, 7 June 2026 | The United Nations Country Team in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today released its 2025 Country Results Report, presenting key results from the partnership between the Kingdom and the United Nations system across national priorities linked to Saudi Vision 2030, under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022–2026.The report reflects continued close cooperation between the Kingdom and the United Nations system, at a time of ongoing progress in advancing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and strengthening the Kingdom’s presence and contribution to regional and international efforts related to sustainable development, humanitarian action and multilateral cooperation.According to the report, the Kingdom’s gross domestic product reached USD 1.27 trillion, with a growth rate of 4.9 per cent. Women’s participation in the labour market exceeded 36 per cent, grid-connected renewable energy generation capacity doubled to 12.3 gigawatts, and the Kingdom contributed USD 2.12 billion in humanitarian assistance, placing it among the world’s top four humanitarian donors.Across 81 interventions and programmes delivered by 22 United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in partnership with more than 50 national entities, the United Nations system contributed to supporting national efforts in people-centred services, environmental sustainability, labour market development and strengthening the Kingdom’s participation in regional and international platforms.Total programme expenditure reached USD 72.2 million in 2025, a 60 per cent increase compared to 2023. The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia financed the majority of programme implementation, reflecting the nature of the partnership as one based on cooperation and joint investment in achieving development impact.Key results highlighted in the report include:Saudi Arabia achieving one of the world’s fastest declines in road traffic fatalities;16 cities receiving the World Health Organization Healthy Cities designation;Jeddah and Madinah becoming the first large cities in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive this designation;water-use efficiency improvements of 20 to 33 per cent being embedded into national irrigation standards;the Kingdom being selected as one of three countries worldwide to present its water governance model at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum.Statement by the Ministry of Foreign AffairsHis Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Rassi, Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs and General Supervisor of the Economic and Development Affairs Deputyship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said:“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs values the ongoing cooperation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Riyadh and the United Nations Country Team, which reflects a constructive institutional partnership in support of national priorities and strengthened coordination with relevant international agendas.”He noted that the 2025 Country Results Report reflects joint efforts across a number of vital development areas and highlights the continued progress made by the Kingdom in implementing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, in addition to consolidating its role as an active partner in supporting multilateral action. This has also been reflected in the Kingdom’s hosting of a number of international conferences and events related to sustainable development, humanitarian action and international cooperation.He added that the Kingdom looks forward to continuing this cooperation in the next phase in a manner that strengthens the alignment of national efforts with the outcomes of the Pact for the Future and advances the development of joint solutions to development and humanitarian challenges at the regional and international levels.Statement by the Ministry of Economy and PlanningMr. Hattan Bin Samman, General Supervisor for International Organizations at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, said:“The Country Results Report reflects the depth of the partnership between the Kingdom and the United Nations. The year 2026 represents a pivotal moment for the transition toward the next Strategic Cooperation Framework for the period 2027–2031, which will deliver sustainable impact and clear, measurable targets in preparation for the post-2030 agenda.”He added that the Ministry values the efficiency of joint coordination based on the “Delivering as One” approach, noting that the added value of the United Nations’ efforts is reflected in the sharing of international best practices and in amplifying the impact of development investments led by the Kingdom with efficiency and capability.He also affirmed that the Kingdom is moving toward strategic governance based on focused efforts and the advancement of sustainable development impact in a way that meets the accelerating requirements of its ambitious future.Statement by the United Nations Resident CoordinatorMr. Mohamed El Zarkani, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said:“The results documented in this report reflect the maturity and depth of the partnership between the United Nations and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and what can be achieved when national ambition, institutional commitment and international cooperation come together around a shared development agenda.”He added that Saudi Arabia is not a passive recipient of international cooperation, but an active shaper of global agendas, and that the United Nations is proud to work alongside national institutions to connect that ambition with the multilateral frameworks that amplify its impact.Looking toward the next Cooperation Framework, he said the shared commitment remains focused on ensuring that the impact of this transformation reaches all regions of the Kingdom and all segments of society, with older persons, youth, persons with disabilities and communities across the Kingdom at the centre of what is being built together.Looking aheadThe 2025 report covers the penultimate year of the current Cooperation Framework for 2022–2026. As the Framework enters its final year in 2026, work has begun on preparing the next cooperation cycle for 2027–2031.The report identifies a number of priority areas for the next phase, including human capital development, economic diversification, environmental sustainability and digital governance. These areas represent important foundations for continuing the partnership, with a focus on supporting an inclusive development pathway whose impact reaches all regions of the Kingdom and all segments of society.The full 2025 Country Results Report is available for download here.

Your Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,Excellencies,Distinguished Guests,I thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting this Forum, and for your warm welcome.It is profoundly fitting that we gather in this land of monumental religious significance to advance the cause of global interfaith dialogue.We do so marking the twentieth anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations – born under the leadership of my dear friend and predecessor, the late Kofi Annan.I salute the co-sponsors – the governments of Spain and Türkiye – and the steadfast commitment of the Group of Friends.I thank High Representative Miguel Moratinos – and the efforts of his predecessors: the late Mr. Jorge Sampaio, and Mr. Nassir Abdel Aziz Al-Nasser.Dear Friends,Some may try to dismiss the goals of the Alliance of Civilizations as utopian.To claim that dialogue and cooperation are out of fashion – too soft for our hard world.They are wrong.The mission of the Alliance of Civilizations is bold. It is essential. And it is more urgent than ever.You are here precisely because you don’t see the world through rose-coloured glasses.You see it as it is – with all its contradictions.An era of breathtaking progress – yet shackled by ancient instincts.A time of relentless innovation – yet poisoned by age-old divisions and new tools of disinformation, spreading Holocaust denial, fuelling the hate that led to the massacre of Rohingyas, and pitting communities against each other to destroy the social cohesion of societies.An age where we hear talk of peace – yet wars multiply;Pledges for prosperity – yet inequalities deepen;Promises of progress – yet human suffering is tolerated on a staggering scale.This is the paradox of our time: we are more connected than ever – yet more fractured than ever.And in this fractured world, two paths lie before us.One plunges deeper into division – a world of more walls and less trust, more weapons and less humanity.The other path – the harder path – the path you have the courage to walk – leads toward dialogue.Toward building bridges across faiths, cultures and civilizations, and taking us all to a better place.Where diversity is recognized as a source of richness, not a threat;Where differences are not erased, but embraced;Where disputes are settled not by force, but by understanding and respect for international law.Dear friends,The wall-building path is easy. It feeds on fear. It appeals to anger.The bridge-building path is hard. It demands courage. It requires resolve.Thank you for taking that harder path.There is no mission more vital today.It is pivotal for forging sustainable peace.No more 7th of Octobers.No more Gazas destroyed.No more El-Fashers starved.No more communities massacred, expelled, or scapegoated.It’s time to end the vicious cycle of death and destruction.And that’s why the world must follow your example and reclaim the values that unite us.Excellencies,We can do so by harnessing three powerful forces for positive change.First, young people.Forty per cent of humanity is between the ages of 10 and 24 – the largest, most connected generation in history.Both online and off, they are discovering shared dreams and shared challenges.They are leading on climate action, driving digital innovation, building local solutions, and championing human rights.Yet they are routinely shut out of decisions that shape their lives.I commend the Alliance for opening doors to youth voices.I welcome the young faces I see here today – including alumni from initiatives such as the Youth Solidarity Fund, the Intercultural Innovation Hub, Young Peacebuilders, and Plural Plus.And I urge Member States to place greater trust in the youngest generations, protect their rights, and make deeper investments in their future.Second, we must do more to draw on the enormous power and potential of the world’s women and girls.Last year, 676 million women and girls lived within 50 kilometres of deadly conflict events – the highest number in decades.Violence kept 44 million girls from attending school, left 60 million women and girls displaced, and drove a surge of sexual assaults.Women and girls pay the heaviest price in war.But they are forgotten or excluded from peace tables.We know women’s leadership is central to just and lasting peace – a truth enshrined 25 years ago in Security Council resolution 1325.That’s why I launched the Common Pledge for Women’s Full, Equal, and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes.I commend the 42 entities that have adopted it – including Saudi Arabia – and encourage others to follow their lead.We must ensure women peacebuilders have the space to lead and participate across public life – from law and politics to journalism, business, science and beyond.Not as bystanders.But as architects of a better future.And third, we must draw on the power of people of faith.All too often, religion is twisted as a weapon of division.We must recognize and reclaim its power as a force for compassion, human dignity, and reconciliation – values shared by all the great faith traditions.This Forum sets an example, by fostering constructive dialogue among religious leaders from diverse traditions.Exchanges like this remind us how faith can be a powerful force for harmony in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.We must all work together to reaffirm our shared commitment to creating a world of mutual understanding and respect.Excellencies,Twenty years ago, we launched an initiative to help show that humanity – in all its diversity – could talk, listen, and build together.Today, that vision is more urgent, than ever.Bringing it to life requires the timeless tools of dialogue and diplomacy.This work is often quiet, painstaking, and imperfect – but it is how ceasefires are brokered, how access to humanitarian relief is secured, and how the seeds of reconciliation are planted.Dialogue and diplomacy are not naïve.They are necessary.Now more than ever, let’s carry forward the spirit of the Alliance of Civilizations – with courage, clarity, and hope.Thank you.

Since then, this day has been observed globally, uniting people in their shared commitment to preserving linguistic diversity and cultural heritage. It is a day to celebrate linguistic diversity across the globe, to recognize that every language is a treasure of knowledge, history, and tradition. It is a reminder that linguistic rights are human rights, and that we must strive to protect and promote the languages of all peoples, especially those endangered or marginalized.Today, 40% of the world’s population does not have access to education in a language they speak or understand. In some countries this figure rises to over 90%.  However, strides are being made in multilingual education, especially in early schooling. Research shows that the use of learners’ own language in schools provides a solid foundation for learning, boosts self-esteem and critical thinking skills, and opens the door for inter-generational learning, language revitalization, and the preservation of culture and intangible heritage. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Multilingual education is a pillar of intergenerational learning’. UNESCO believes that literacy programmes and methodologies respond to the needs of learners when they are context-relevant, possibly multilingual and support intercultural understanding within the framework of lifelong learning. UNESCO promotes multilingualism, that is the use of more than one language in daily life, especially in contexts where different linguistic groups exist in the same country. Multilingual education based on the mother tongue(s) in the early years of schooling plays a key role in the transition from home to school and fosters respect for diversity. Multilingual education also extends to families and communities. By preserving and revitalizing languages, we bridge generational gaps and ensure that cultural heritage is passed down and cultural identity is protected. With students learning in their mother tongue language, parents and families are more likely to be involved in the learning of their children.  UNESCO recognizes the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for building sustainable societies. Our languages serve as conduits for transmitting and preserving traditional knowledge and cultures. They foster tolerance, respect, and understanding among diverse communities. Let us celebrate our linguistic diversity and heritage. Each language contributes to the rich tapestry of humanity. By preserving languages, promoting multilingual education, we build bridges across generations, and people, ensuring our cultural legacies, and realizing one of the key objectives of education, which is to learn how to live together. 

The world is at a unique historical juncture, grappling with increased uncertainty and complex issues that shift at an unprecedented speed. Our education systems are confronted with multiple challenges and are highly impacted by technology – related developments, ecological and sociological trends that require them to adapt and transform. The world is seeing a surge in conflicts paralleled by a concerning rise of intolerance and discrimination. In particular, disinformation, misinformation, hate speech can take dangerous forms that not only cause harm at the personal level and incite group-targeted violence but are also an attack on inclusion, diversity and human rights. Quality, equitable and lifelong education remains the most transformational power to redress injustice and entrenched inequalities, shape just, sustainable and peaceful societies and futures. Education, in its various forms, has the power to transcend boundaries, challenge prejudices, bridge gaps between people and cultures, and ultimately, foster a sense of global citizenship, a sense of belonging to a common and diverse humanity, respecting the needs and the rights of each others, and our shared planet Earth, which we all bear responsibility for. All of this is eloquently articulated in the UNESCO Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development unanimously adopted by 194 Member States in November 2023, which underlines the importance of education being positioned at the center of our commitment to peace. The Recommendation focuses on how teaching and learning should transform to bring about lasting peace, a concept deeper than the absence of violence and conflict that includes dynamic, and long-term efforts to build the ability to value human dignity, our well-being and the good state of our shared planet. The Recommendation reaffirms human rights, gender inclusion in and through education, and sustainable development, despite threats and challenges. In doing so, it promotes 14 guiding principles and priority action areas that can help empower learners with the necessary knowledge, competencies, and attitudes to become agents of peace in their immediate communities.