Solid waste management (SWM) is one of the key responsibilities of city administrators and one of the effective proxies for good governance. Effective SWM mitigates adverse health and environmental impacts, conserves resources, and improves the livability of cities. However, unsustainable SWM practices, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and financial and institutional limitations, negatively impact public health and environmental sustainability. This review article assesses the human and environmental health impacts of SWM practices in the Global South cities that are the future of global urbanization. The study employs desktop research methodology based on in-depth analysis of secondary data and literature, including official documents and published articles. It finds that the commonplace SWM practices include mixing household and commercial garbage with hazardous waste during storage and handling. While waste storage is largely in old or poorly managed facilities such as storage containers, the transportation system is often deficient and informal. The disposal methods are predominantly via uncontrolled dumping, open-air incinerators, and landfills. The negative impacts of such practices include air and water pollution, land degradation, emissions of methane and hazardous leachate, and climate change. These impacts impose significant environmental and public health costs on residents with marginalized social groups mostly affected. The paper concludes with recommendations for mitigating the public and environmental health risks associated with the existing SWM practices in the Global South.

Despite the importance of integrated recreation cities (IRC) to the wellbeing of individuals, families, and society, there is only one IRC which is under development in Saudi Arabia (KSA). This research aims to study the potential contributions of IRCs to sustainable development in KSA, the constraints facing them, and effectuation policies to support their applications. To achieve this goal, the research used a documentary inductive approach, which includes a review of related literature and an applied approach that includes field surveys of a random sample of 160 experts and officials. In addition to articulating the most significant contributions of IRCs and the most important constraints facing them, the research was able to provide a number of policies and measures useful in guiding the development of new IRCs in KSA and Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA) in support of sustainable development. The contributions of this research are aligned with that put forward by the 2030 Vision of KSA, which considers the promotion of “recreational development” a necessary step to achieve environmental, economic, and social sustainability for the Saudi society.

Sea-level rise (SLR) and coastal flooding are among the most pressing climate-related challenges facing coastal regions worldwide, and their impacts are further intensified by rapid urbanization. These processes pose serious socioeconomic and environmental risks, including increased flood exposure, threats to public health, and damage to critical infrastructure. In Saudi Arabia, more than 3100 km² of coastal land lies at elevations of 1 m or lower; however, reliable assessments of future sea-level rise and its potential impacts remain limited, creating significant uncertainty for long-term planning. This study addresses this knowledge gap by identifying areas vulnerable to sea-level rise and coastal flooding through the development of inundation maps for the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA) as a case study, while also outlining potential adaptation measures. Using satellite imagery and geospatial datasets, changes in the DMA shoreline between 2014 and 2024 were analyzed, and sea-level rise scenarios were simulated based on projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The results indicate that under a 0.6 m sea-level rise scenario, flooding would be limited to a small area of approximately 0.2 km² in the Half-Moon residential district. In contrast, a 1.1 m sea-level rise scenario reveals a substantial increase in risk, with nearly 83 km² of the DMA potentially exposed to coastal flooding. Based on these findings, targeted disaster management and adaptation strategies are recommended for areas most vulnerable to sea-level rise. The study highlights the need for policies regulating coastal reclamation and other climate-sensitive developments to minimize future flood risks. It supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by enhancing urban flood risk assessment and improving understanding of climate-driven sea-level rise impacts.

This study aims to review the off-plan sales program to identify the financial and marketing challenges being faced by such programs in Saudi Arabia and formulate consensus-based measures to overcome these challenges. The study implies an analytical descriptive method to achieve its objectives, based on the opinion of experts involved in the off-plan sales program and analyzing the data using the Delphi technique. Various statistical parameters were calculated to validate the obtained results. The study found several challenges being faced by off-plan sales programs, including financing challenges such as mortgaging on the land deed, as well as marketing challenges, including low turnout of the buyers due to the long duration of project implementation. The study concludes with several suggested measures, the most important of which is to find an alternative to the condition of mortgaging the land deed, such as putting insurance on the project or providing a financial bank guarantee. The study contributes to the improvement of the real estate sector of Saudi Arabia and would benefit the construction and development sectors as well.

This study examines the influence of the arrangement of roads, buildings, and land use on abating terrorist attacks. The study analyzes seven cases of terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in 61(86%), and 197(88%) of the total deaths and injuries recorded within the last three decades, respectively. It finds that urban design features aided the attacks and recommends redesigning entrances and approaches to places of worship, establishing buffer zones between them and parking lots, and ensuring unobstructed views along approach paths. Urban planning guidelines alongside other security measures can significantly reduce the risk of terrorist attacks in public places.

Sea level rise (SLR) and coastal flooding are critical climate‐induced impacts affecting coastal regions, further compounded by rapid urbanization and climate change. In Saudi Arabia, although over 3100 km2 of coastal areas are situated at 1 m elevation, little is known about the expected SLR, and its impacts remain uncertain. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by forecasting SLR‐susceptible zones in the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA) and proposing necessary adaptation measures. The study utilized satellite imagery and GIS data to compare DMAʹs coastal shoreline in 2014 and 2022, simulate SLR scenarios, and identify potential flood zones based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections. The results indicate that at 0.6 m SLR, 21 km2 of Half‐Moon residential district could experience flooding, while at 1.1 m SLR, 83 km2 of DMA’s total land area could be susceptible to SLR and coastal flooding. The socioeconomic and environmental implications of SLR include flood risks, threats to public health, and infrastructure damage. Therefore, adaptation strategies, such as constructing dikes, seawalls, and accommodations are recommended for SLR‐susceptible zones. The study concludes by advocating for policies that restrict coastal reclamation and related climate change‐induced activities to mitigate the forecasted impacts of SLR and coastal flooding in the study area. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential impacts of SLR on Saudi Arabia’s coastal regions and inform the development of effective adaptation measures to mitigate these impacts.