Riyadh to showcase Saudi Vision 2030 milestones at WUF13 in Baku — envoy

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Baku, Essam Al-Jutaili, described the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku as a key platform to showcase the Kingdom’s ongoing development transformation, as well as its progress in urban planning and improving quality of life under the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.

In remarks to the Saudi Press Agency, he noted that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the forum, held under the theme “Housing the world: safe and resilient cities and communities,” reflects both the strong bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan and the Kingdom’s active role in major international platforms.

Al-Jutaili emphasised that these achievements have been made possible through the consistent guidance and support of the Kingdom’s leadership.

He also highlighted that the forum is one of the world’s leading events on sustainable urban development and housing, bringing together governments, international organisations, and experts, and providing an important space for sharing experience and best practices to address modern urban challenges.

The 13th World Urban Forum, organised by UN-Habitat and held biennially, serves as the United Nations’ leading global platform on cities and urban development. This year’s edition will be hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 17 to 22, marking the first time the event takes place in the Caucasus region.

Under the theme “Housing the world: safe and resilient cities and communities,” the forum will address the global housing crisis while promoting sustainable urban development. It is expected to gather thousands of participants, including government officials, mayors, urban planners, private sector representatives, and civil society organisations.

The programme will include high-level dialogues, technical sessions, an Urban Expo, networking opportunities, and policy discussions focused on urgent urban challenges such as housing shortages, climate resilience, and social inequality. The forum also plays a significant role in shaping global urban policy and advancing the implementation of the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda.

Overall, WUF13 is set to establish Baku as a key international hub for discussions on the future of cities and sustainable urban transformation.

By Jeyhun Aghazada