DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, 28 October
2025:
Mayors and city leaders from more than 30 cities across the Arab world
convened for an executive dinner at Expo City Dubai to discuss a shared vision
for a sustainable and prosperous Arab urban future.
The gathering, which followed the opening ceremony of the Asia Pacific
Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum at Al Wasl Plaza, was also attended by Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State
for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority and UAE Ministers of State Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al
Kaabi and
His Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar. It provided an opportunity for
city leaders to emphasise a collective responsibility to address regional
challenges – including water resilience, rapid growth and youth employability –
through collaboration.
Mayors and
deputy mayors attending the meeting represented cities across key Arab markets,
including Riyadh, Dubai and Casablanca.
The
meeting came at a pivotal moment for the region, with Arab cities among the
fastest urbanising in the world. According to UN-Habitat, the Arab world’s
urban population is expected to reach 65 per cent by 2030 – underscoring the
urgency for cities to coordinate on resilience, infrastructure and inclusive
growth.
Joint Arab
cooperation, rooted in shared cultural and historical ties, remains central to
the UAE’s strategy for strengthening alliances and economic partnerships across
the region. The meeting reaffirmed a collective commitment to advancing policy,
planning and partnership frameworks that can boost infrastructure investment in
the region.
Shifting the focus from unilateral guidance to collective problem-solving,
the meeting served as a dynamic platform for mutual learning, acknowledging
that every Arab city, regardless of its current stage of development, possesses
unique insights.
Arab cities have a growing role within the global cityscape, and the
Summit provides them with a platform to exchange knowledge and engage with
cities from around the world to solidify their presence as they grow.
The visiting mayors and city leaders are in Dubai to attend the three-day
global cities summit, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan
bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive
Council of Dubai.
Source: AETOSWire
Contacts:
For media enquiries, please contact
Sandy Barqawi
press.office@expocitydubai.ae
|