Evaluating the capacity of local authorities in implementing participatory urban planning: The case of Khobar City, Saudi Arabia

This study evaluates the capacity of local authorities in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to implement participatory urban planning within a centralized governance system and the context of Vision 2030 reforms. It introduces a conceptual framework structured around four key dimensions: transparency, public participation, responsiveness, and technology adoption. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach—including 20 semi-structured interviews with officials and survey data from 453 residents—the research identifies institutional and systemic barriers, such as bureaucratic inefficiencies, overlapping mandates, and the symbolic use of participatory mechanisms in urban planning. While e-platforms like Istitlaa and Balady offer digital avenues for participation, their impact remains constrained by digital inequality and limited integration with decision-making. The findings also reveal that public input often informs minor project adjustments rather than shaping strategic planning, highlighting the consultative rather than collaborative nature of participatory urban planning in Khobar. This paper contributes to participatory governance theory by adapting Arnstein’s Ladder to assess participation levels in centralized, non-democratic contexts. It demonstrates that while reforms under Vision 2030 have encouraged decentralization and public participation, significant gaps persist in institutional transparency, responsiveness, and the effective use of participatory tools. To enhance participatory outcomes, the study proposes targeted reforms, including institutionalizing participatory frameworks, improving inter-agency coordination, and investing in digital and human capacity. The findings offer broader implications for implementing participatory planning in transitional governance systems and underscore the importance of tailored approaches to urban governance reform.