Azwah Platform for Community Engagement’: A National Initiative Under the Patronage of His Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh

Community participation is a fundamental pillar in the evolution of cities. Within this framework, the Riyadh Municipality launched the ‘Azwah’ Forum and Award, an initiative that has successfully fostered a culture of volunteering and civic contribution. Under the patronage of His Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of the Riyadh , this national platform has become a living embodiment of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in strengthening partnerships between different sectors and empowering the community to actively contribute to urban development.

The ‘ Azwah’ Forum and Award was launched with the participation of a select group of experts and stakeholders in the fields of community work and urban development. This forum extended the efforts of the Riyadh Municipality aimed at supporting the ecosystem of community work and expanding the scope of participation through qualitative initiatives focused on enhancing awareness of the shared responsibility between residents and the municipal sector.

The Forum aimed to entrench awareness of community practices within the municipal sector and highlight qualitative initiatives that have had a tangible impact in empowering residents and stakeholders to activate participation and volunteering for more sustainable development. It also sought to showcase inspiring national experiences that strengthened the partnership between the community and the municipal sector and contributed to developing the institutional volunteering environment in the cities of the Kingdom.

The Riyadh Municipality defined three main tracks for community participation: "Consultation, Participation, and Empowerment." The ‘ Azwah’ Award was also designed with four competitive tracks:

- Municipal Volunteering: Focuses on measuring the impact of volunteer initiatives through the number of hours and opportunities implemented and the quality of performance. It includes individuals and teams.

- Pioneering Community Initiatives: Concerned with innovative ideas that create a tangible impact through effective partnerships.

- Social Responsibility: Pertains to the role of organizations in activating initiatives and promoting sustainability.

- Recognition Track: Aims to honor entities and community work pioneers who have presented qualitative initiatives that contributed to improving the quality of life.

The ‘ Azwah’ Award and Forum achieved remarkable accomplishments, reflected in the following numbers:

- Honoring 17 winners of the ‘ Azwah’ Award in its first cycle.

- Signing 29 cooperation agreements between the Municipality and its partners from various sectors.

- Participation of over 1,000 registered attendees at the forum, reception of 750 visitors, and involvement of 26 speakers.

- Live stream views exceeding 12,000, with over 395,000 impressions across social media platforms.

Under the patronage and guidance of His Highness the Mayor of the Riyadh , the initiative gained exceptional momentum. During his speech at the forum, His Royal Highness praised the outstanding community efforts and initiatives, affirming that "the ‘ Azwah’ Award for Community Participation is a platform to honour those with a community impact and to highlight inspiring models that have contributed to serving neighbourhoods and improving the urban environment."

His Highness revealed significant community participation achievements: from the beginning of 2024 until mid-2025, over 100,000 male and female volunteers participated in the Municipality's initiatives, events, and activities, in addition to nearly 600 associations. Together, they carried out more than 7,000 days of continuous community work, benefiting over 7.7 million beneficiaries.

In line with the digital transformation direction, His Highness the Mayor of the Riyadh launched the ‘ Azwah’ Platform for Community Engagement. This platform aims to empower community members to participate in initiatives, volunteer activities, and social events through a unified channel that contributes to organizing and implementing community projects. The platform allows residents and visitors of Riyadh to easily view and participate in volunteer activities, initiatives, and community events through a modern digital interface.

The ‘ Azwah’ Forum and Award represents a qualitative leap in the concept of community participation in the capital, Riyadh. It has successfully gathered ideas, unified efforts, and built effective partnerships between different sectors. This initiative was not merely a celebratory event, but a practical embodiment of a strategic vision that places the community at the heart of the urban development process, affirming that major achievements are only realized with the participation of community members and the cooperation of all parties.

Thanks to the gracious patronage of His Highness the Mayor of the Riyadh, the continuous support from the Municipality, and the significant interaction from all segments of society, ‘ Azwah’ has become a beacon for community innovation and a model to be emulated in promoting social belonging and work. This contributes to achieving the targets of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program, towards a capital that develops with the participation of its people.