Cairo: The Architecture and Design Commission has announced its participation in the Saudi Pavilion at the twelfth edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), set to take place in Cairo from November 4 to 8, 2024, at the Egypt International Exhibition Center. The WUF, established by the United Nations in 2001, is the leading global conference on sustainable urbanization and addresses critical urban issues worldwide.
According to Saudi Press Agency, through its participation, the commission aims to explore the latest trends in urban development and sustainable cities, share knowledge and expertise with officials and experts, and showcase its efforts in related fields. This year’s forum, themed “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” will gather a diverse group of participants from around the world to discuss pressing urban challenges.
The commission’s involvement will include the presentation of several initiatives, such as the King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urb
anism, the Urban Transformation Initiative, and the Architecture and Design Sector Report.
Additionally, CEO of the Architecture and Design Commission Dr. Sumayah Al-Solaiman will participate in two high-level panel sessions titled “The Heartbeat of the City” and “Shaping Urban Identities: Strategies for Enhancing the Visual Image of Cities.”
The commission will also hold several panel discussions on topics like the King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism and an overview of the Architecture and Design Sector in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the commission will organize workshops to implement its Urban Transformation Guide for Cities, a comprehensive guide that provides planning and project execution strategies for creating more inclusive and multifunctional social spaces within Saudi cities. The guide focuses on six aspects of public spaces: sports venues, public squares, indoor public spaces, streets and walkways, and natural open spaces like parks and gardens.
The Architecture and Design Commissio
n’s participation in the forum underscores its commitment to fostering global community engagement, participating in key regional and international events, and strengthening strategic international partnerships to bring best practices and expertise to advance the sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This will be the commission’s second appearance at the World Urban Forum; it previously attended the last forum organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) in Katowice, Poland, from June 26 to 30, 2022.