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.

This paper examines the impact of recent policies on the transformation of local participatory urban planning in Saudi Arabia since the implementation of Vision 2030 in 2016, highlighting both its potential and challenges. It analyzes the shift from centralized to localized planning at the municipal level and its effects, including increased opportunities for public participation through workshops and digital platforms, as well as the persistence of challenges such as limited public influence on final decisions and inadequate transparency in planning processes. Using a comprehensive literature review, policy document analysis, semi-structured interviews with 20 Saudi urban planners, and a survey of 453 participants, this study reveals significant governance changes. These changes include increased municipal autonomy and the establishment of regional development authorities, which have provided opportunities for local participatory planning. However, the findings also highlight concerns regarding the exclusion of marginalized communities, displacement caused by mega projects, and limited transparency in decision-making processes. While initiatives such as ‘Your Voice Is Heard’, including ‘Balady’ and ‘Istitlaa’, have facilitated a modest degree of public participation, bureaucratic barriers, regulatory complexities, and centralized control continue to hinder the full realization of local participatory planning goals. This study concludes that although policies have improved inclusivity, sustainability, and efficiency, addressing broader ethical concerns and governance challenges is essential for the transformative potential of Vision 2030 to be fully realized in reshaping urban governance in Saudi Arabia.