<The first edition of the Arab-European Cities Dialogue Forum, organized by the Riyadh Municipality under the theme “Cities Partnerships for a Better Future”, in cooperation with the Arab Institute for City Development, the PLATFORMA platform of the Union of European Municipalities and Regions, and the International Agency of the Union of Dutch Municipalities, will kick off today, Sunday, in the capital, Riyadh, and continue until May 13.
The Forum is a strategic platform to strengthen ties between Arab and European cities, promote city diplomacy, and support their trends towards more sustainable and inclusive urban development. The choice of Riyadh as the first city to host the Forum is a confirmation of its advanced position in the regional and international urban scene and its vital role in supporting municipal initiatives and promoting cross-border partnerships.
The inaugural edition of the forum will be attended by a number of secretaries, mayors and mayors from various cities, as well as international organizations, municipal unions, funds and donor institutions specialized in supporting development projects, making the forum a meeting point for decision makers in the municipal and development sectors, and an opportunity to enhance institutional communication and exchange successful experiences.
The Forum's agenda includes various events including interactive sessions, roundtables, specialized workshops, a ”Trustees Forum”, an ”Idea Market”, as well as field visits dedicated to the major projects that Riyadh is witnessing in the fields of public transport, afforestation and public space development as part of the city's efforts to achieve integrated urban development based on quality of life.
The forum is expected to contribute to providing practical and implementable recommendations that enhance the capabilities of cities in participatory planning and sustainable financing, and open new horizons for cooperation between cities and donor institutions, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the mission of the Riyadh Municipality to provide high-quality municipal services and build effective partnerships that increase the level of efficiency and sustainability of urban development.
The inaugural edition of the forum will be attended by a number of secretaries, mayors and mayors from various cities, as well as international organizations, municipal unions, funds and donor institutions specialized in supporting development projects, making the forum a meeting point for decision makers in the municipal and development sectors, and an opportunity to enhance institutional communication and exchange successful experiences.
Riyadh is the first city to host the forum.
Urban challenges are a priority
<The Forum will focus on a number of priority urban challenges, most notably improving the quality of municipal services, infrastructure development, digital transformation, sustainable financing, and addressing the effects of climate change, in addition to discussing mechanisms for multi-level cooperation between cities and international organizations.The Forum's agenda includes various events including interactive sessions, roundtables, specialized workshops, a ”Trustees Forum”, an ”Idea Market”, as well as field visits dedicated to the major projects that Riyadh is witnessing in the fields of public transport, afforestation and public space development as part of the city's efforts to achieve integrated urban development based on quality of life.
The forum is expected to contribute to providing practical and implementable recommendations that enhance the capabilities of cities in participatory planning and sustainable financing, and open new horizons for cooperation between cities and donor institutions, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the mission of the Riyadh Municipality to provide high-quality municipal services and build effective partnerships that increase the level of efficiency and sustainability of urban development.
The forum is expected to contribute to providing practical and implementable recommendations that enhance the capabilities of cities in participatory planning and sustainable financing.
