Riyadh will host 120 mayors for a municipal summit this May. The Saudi capital launches the Arab-European Cities Dialogue Forum from 11 to 13 May despite Vision 2030 hiccups.
Saudi and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries have invested billions in smart city development.
These urban centers diversify economies while maintaining governance control.
Saudi Arabia started its smart city projects in 2017. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Neom, a $500 billion megacity covering 10,230 square miles in northwest Saudi Arabia.
Budget cuts have significantly slowed progress, yet the project is integral to Saudi Vision 2030.
Whilst the project propels Saudi forward, other Gulfi competitors remain committed to cutting-edge city planning.
The United Arab Emirates has spent £19 billion on the Masdar City green development. This urban zone uses technologies for sustainability. Research focuses on wireless networks and traffic flow systems.
Chinese firms supply much of the technology in Gulf cities. Huawei will invest £400 million in Saudi cloud infrastructure. This partnership benefits both regions in the technology sector.
Worldwide, smart technologies deliver measurable results in urban areas.
Crime rates fall by 30% in areas with surveillance systems. Fatal accidents decrease by 8% where transport networks operate.
Forum Addresses Shared Urban Challenges
The event brings together cities facing similar urban issues. Municipal leaders will discuss problems affecting cities in both regions. Development organizations will contribute expertise to these talks.
Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf states the dialogue tackles urban challenges through joint work. He serves as Riyadh Mayor and Arab Urban Development Institute Chairman.
Preparations began with visits to European cities.
Arab Urban Development Institute representatives met with officials in eight European cities in March 2025.
Leaders in Bucharest, Rome, and other cities joined these early discussions.
Cities Focus on Practical Solutions
The three-day meeting will cover specific urban management topics. Infrastructure heads the agenda with municipal service delivery.
Digital tools and climate measures will feature in scheduled sessions.
The format includes various meeting types for participant engagement. Sessions and roundtables will occur throughout the event. Site visits will show Riyadh’s urban projects to visiting officials.
Riyadh earned selection as host through its urban development record. The city stands as an example of regional urban progress. The capital balances growth with cultural elements.
Biennial Structure Ensures Continuity
The AECD forum plans for long-term cooperation between cities.
Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf explains the event will occur every ten years in alternating regions. This system maintains long-term momentum while sharing hosting duties.
Regular meetings allow tracking of joint project progress. Cities can monitor developments through this structured cooperation. The rotation includes more cities in both regions over time.
Non-governmental groups participate alongside city officials. These organisations run workshops on urban topics. Their work connects government structures with community projects.
Funding remains a key concern for city development projects.
The forum links cities with potential funders through networking events.
Local projects gain attention from international investors through these contacts.
Unidirectional Knowledge Exchange Benefits Both Regions
European cities offer urban planning experience to the dialogue. Their history provides lessons in sustainable growth methods.
Many European cities have adapted to changing economic conditions.
Gulf cities contribute new technological solutions to urban problems. Their fast development shows possibilities for quick transformation. Projects like Neom test new approaches to city design.
The exchange helps both regions improve urban conditions. European cities can use new technologies for aging infrastructure. Gulf cities learn about public spaces and heritage protection.
Arab and European cities have historical links across centuries. These connections have affected architecture and city layouts. The dialogue builds on this past while solving modern urban problems.
City cooperation often works when national efforts stall. Municipal leaders find practical solutions to shared problems.
The Arab-European Cities Dialogue creates this direct city-to-city cooperation.
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