Riyadh: The General Authority for Awqaf concluded its participation as part of the Kingdom's delegation in United Nations sustainable development events held at UN headquarters in New York, including the 2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and the UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the authority participated in the forum as one of the national entities contributing to the Kingdom's Third Voluntary National Review 2026, which highlighted progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. For the first time in the Kingdom's voluntary national reviews, the role of Awqaf was highlighted in housing, education, health, and development finance.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the authority, organized a high-level roundtable titled "Unlocking Sustainable Development Finance: Governance, Impact Measurement, and the Future Role of Awqaf." The session brought together government officials, UN leaders, experts, and international partners. Reyada Center, representing the authority, presented the Saudi Awqaf experience and the Waqf Excellence Index developed in partnership with UNDP.
The authority also participated in the high-level meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda, led by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing. It also held a number of bilateral meetings with UN and international entities to explore opportunities for cooperation in Awqaf sector development, impact measurement, and development finance.