Towards the city peaks

Introduction: Recently, a number of concepts and terms have been circulated, most notably the concept of the city year, which refers to a set of measures whose implementation contributes to achieving the concept of quality of life. The latter is also one of the new concepts that contemporary societies have begun to adopt, present, and attempt to crystallize in reality. I am certain that practicing this term predates its formal terminology. The idea of humanizing cities arises from making the place, whether it is a city, street, market, or facility, serious, comfortable, and intimate, not alienating due to its rigidity and ugliness. This is achieved by creating green spaces, cultivating trees inside and outside buildings, providing shaded areas and public spaces, as well as caring for the overall aesthetic system through music, visual arts, artistic decorations, and craftsmanship. All of this occurs outside the urban and judicial framework, ensuring resource sustainability and environmental preservation. This trend reflects a high level of human civilization. However, the problem that may overshadow the noble goals of this trend occurs when strategies are not implemented in a way that ensures ideas do not conflict due to conflicting orientations adopted by some parties. There is a tendency that considers trimming trees as aggressive behavior that distorts the beauty of nature and hinders greenery expansion, whereas another perspective sees the necessity of teaching and pruning trees in aesthetic shapes as a positive step. There is disagreement about what constitutes humanizing and what does not, according to personal, intellectual, or structural development. I conclude with the official care of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has begun actively implementing initiatives and programs of the Saudi Vision, aiming to activate and reinforce the concept of city humanization. It is likely to bear fruit in the coming period, as the royal order was issued to approve holding the first international conference on city automation in Madinah. The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing also launched the initiative of the city year, aimed at improving the quality of urban life, enhancing the urban scene, and applying inclusive accessibility standards to municipal facilities, pedestrian pathways, and others. In this issue, you will read about: Abdulwahab Abu Malha – Management of the Treasury House in Asir; Innovation and Human Development; the Zayed Award for the Library of Alexandria.