Egypt’s preparations to host the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) from November 4 to 8 are witnessing extensive international and local engagement, Invest-Gate reports.

Requests to attend the forum’s events are pouring in, and leaders and officials from local, regional, and international levels are expected to participate. The new session of the forum in Egypt aims to unify efforts among participants, ushering in a new era of urbanization and sustainable urban development while enhancing global awareness of the pivotal role of local actions in addressing critical issues such as housing availability, transportation efficiency, water supply safety, climate change impacts, and urban crises and conflicts.

Recent statistics on the forum’s preparations, organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities and the Ministry of Local Development, reveal that approximately 9,000 individuals from over 160 countries have registered to attend.

Notably, 45 ministers and 70 city mayors from influential nations have confirmed their participation. This forum stands out as a key global event on the United Nations agenda, focusing on urbanization and comprehensive urban development worldwide.

The forum is set to feature extensive community engagement at both leadership and individual levels, emphasizing sustainable urbanization through discussions, knowledge exchange, sharing best practices, and policy insights to foster more sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally friendly cities.

It aims to identify opportunities for a renewed social contract that balances housing rights with social justice, underscores the significance of local adaptation, mitigation, and resilience, and ensures urban areas thrive in the face of unprecedented climate challenges.

At the local level, the Ministries of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, and Local Development are spearheading the forum’s organization to showcase Egypt’s modern advancements in construction and development to a global audience. Egypt’s role as the host, the first African country to do so in two decades, underscores its strategic significance internationally and regionally as a hub for development, urbanization, and peace.