Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense, Dubai Expo City is hosting the Asia-Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum. This event, taking place from October 27 to 29, marks the first time it is organized in the Middle East, bringing together a diverse group of city leaders and mayors from around the world.
The summit is set to welcome municipal leaders, mayors, and representatives from governmental organizations and businesses from over 300 cities globally, focused on shaping the future of urban development.
This gathering promises to transform ideas into actionable initiatives, featuring a range of new announcements and incentives designed to support investment, innovation, and advancements that will help make cities more livable, efficient, and resilient.
Smart Cities
The summit will explore several critical topics, including affordable housing projects and urban solutions, transitioning to data-driven smart cities that are nature-based. Participants will include policymakers, investors, business leaders, young professionals, academics, and startups to draw from a wide array of ideas.
Together, they will chart a course toward more environmentally sustainable cities that prioritize human well-being, enhancing transportation, housing, economic opportunities, and access to education and healthcare services.
Dubai Municipality plans to announce a range of ambitious strategic projects aimed at bolstering urban sustainability, advancing smart infrastructure, supporting digital transformation, and fostering new local and international collaborations among cities, reflecting Dubai’s commitment and leadership in urban planning as a model for future cities.
A New Direction
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority, stated that from the exceptional Expo event hosted in Dubai to the impactful global climate summit, it is an honor to bring the world together once again in Dubai, leveraging the legacy of Expo City as a hub for addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges in urban development.
This diverse assembly of city leaders and mayoral visionaries presents an opportunity to balance innovation, expertise, technology, commercial feasibility, and sustainable growth, creating a new path forward toward a global community of urban centers.
Abdullah Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, remarked that Dubai represents a model of ever-evolving urban communities, symbolizing global cooperation and continuous advancement. It is a vibrant global city that prioritizes sustainable development and human-centered urban planning, showcasing world-class governance and knowledge exchange, as reflected in its strategic partnerships and comprehensive development plans through the Dubai 2033 agendas.
With the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, this global summit will offer opportunities to forge new partnerships and collaborations, ensuring cities everywhere are adequately equipped to handle rapid urban growth.
We reaffirm our active contribution to designing smart, flexible, and sustainable solutions for the cities and communities of the future. The summit will feature participation from urban leaders and mayors, alongside senior officials from cities across the Arab world, Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Americas, to discuss the future of urban development and share visions for sustainable city growth.
Notable participants include officials from Brisbane, Australia; Abuja, Nigeria; Fortaleza, Brazil; Jaipur, India; Karachi, Pakistan; Montpellier, France; and Rabat, Morocco, among many others.
Featured speakers will include Sheikha Nasser Al Nuaimi, the elected Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (2026-2030), the first woman to hold this position; Dr. Nawal Al Hosani, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); and Kyung-ki Kim, the Secretary General of the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), based in Seoul, South Korea.
Success Stories
The Government of Dubai will showcase its success stories at a pavilion, emphasizing Dubai’s global standing and leveraging current achievements as a foundation for its promising future. This will include contributions from multiple governmental bodies such as the Dubai Police, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Digital Authority, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and Dubai Future Foundation.
The Dubai Real Estate Forum, in collaboration with the Dubai Land Department, will explore how land use, infrastructure, and ambitious property development serve both economic objectives and human welfare, highlighting real estate as one of the least utilized tools for achieving resilience and long-term value in cities.
The summit will also feature a Mayors’ Forum, supported by Dubai Municipality and partnered with the Milken Institute, aimed at reaching a consensus among mayors at the conclusion of the event. Furthermore, a City Leaders Forum will be organized in collaboration with the Arab Urban Development Institute.