Riyadh: Mayor of Riyadh Region and President of the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf on Saturday attended the signing of two memoranda of cooperation aimed at boosting international collaboration in sustainable urban development and the exchange of expertise between Arab and European cities, during the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) held in Cairo.

According to Saudi Press Agency, a cooperation agreement was signed with United Cities and Local Governments (Metropolis) to boost collaboration in research, capacity building, consultancy services, and organizing training events for Arab cities representatives.

Also, a tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed by AUDI, Platforma, and the Center for Innovative Local Governance (CILG-VNGI) to bolster cooperation and exchange of expertise between Arab and European cities in urban development and local governance.

These partnerships fall under the framework of the Arab-European City Dialogue initiative, whose
inaugural edition will be launched in Riyadh in May 2025. The initiative aims to enhance urban cooperation and organize forums that bring together Arab and European cities to promote sustainable development, thus contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing the quality of life in Arab cities.