In brief
Al‑Baha’s municipal council reported a record number of volunteer hours in October 2026, with over a thousand volunteers engaging across diverse initiatives from environmental protection to public health. Mayor Dr. Ali Al‑Sawat highlighted the 100 % satisfaction figure and reiterated the municipality’s commitment to empowering volunteers as part of Vision 2030 goals. The report underscores a broad partnership with national agencies and community associations, though the source does not detail the metrics used to assess satisfaction.
On 3 November 2026, the Saudi Press Agency reported that Al‑Baha Municipality logged 6,825 volunteer hours in October. The tally was generated by 1,365 volunteers who contributed to 91 distinct initiatives, a figure the agency noted was the most active month yet for the region.
The agency’s coverage highlighted that the month’s efforts spanned several key themes, from environmental protection and extensive tree‑planting campaigns to programs that encouraged healthy lifestyles and bolstered community health. In addition, a number of municipal services were improved through volunteer involvement, the agency said.
Mayor of Al‑Baha Region Dr. Ali Al‑Sawat, who addressed the press on 3 November, said the initiatives covered environmental protection, tree planting, healthy lifestyles, community health and municipal activities. He emphasized that the work was carried out in partnership with government agencies and local associations, pointing to the collaborative nature of the month’s endeavors.
Dr. Al‑Sawat reiterated the municipality’s commitment to encouraging volunteerism and stated that these opportunities are in line with both the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing’s objectives and Saudi Vision 2030. He spoke of “improving the quality of life for residents” as a core motive behind the volunteer campaigns.
The press release also reported that the volunteer projects earned 100 % satisfaction, a figure presented by the municipality’s metrics system. While the agency did not provide specifics on how satisfaction was measured, the figure was repeated as a central highlight of the month’s report.
In October, volunteers engaged in a wide array of activities. Some worked on reforestation projects that planted thousands of trees across municipal parks and nearby agricultural lands. Others assisted in distributing health‑related informational materials throughout community centers, a move intended to raise awareness about preventive care and healthy living.
Environmental protection initiatives included clean‑up drives in city neighborhoods, where volunteers removed plastic waste and collected recyclable materials. The municipality noted that the clean‑up efforts aligned with national environmental targets that aim to reduce waste and promote recycling.
Additional projects addressed public health by setting up mobile health screenings for residents, providing free check‑ups for blood pressure and cholesterol. Volunteers, overseen by municipal health officers, were also involved in distributing personal protective equipment during periods of heightened infectious disease risk.
Community health initiatives were joined by the municipality’s environmental partnership, as local environmental agencies collaborated to monitor air quality and water safety. This joint effort allowed volunteers to help collect data points that feed into the region’s broader ecological monitoring programs.
The press release concluded by mentioning that these volunteer activities were part of a larger national push to involve citizens in public service. Al‑Baha municipality’s reported success was positioned as a model for other regions wishing to replicate the high engagement and satisfaction outcomes achieved in October.
While the details about the number and diversity of volunteers are clear, the agency’s report leaves certain aspects undefined, such as the precise methods used to calculate the satisfaction rate and the potential long‑term impact on the community health and environmental initiatives. No further data are offered on how these metrics were derived or how they compare to previous months.
