Qatar participated in the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), which kicked off on Sunday in Baku and runs until May 22 under the theme Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.
The WUF is organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), with the participation of officials, decision-makers and experts concerned with urban development and housing from various countries of the world.
His Excellency the Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah led Qatar's delegation at the forum.
He participated in the opening ceremony, which was attended by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, along with a number of senior officials and international decision-makers.
HE al-Attiyah also participated in the ministerial meeting, which addressed issues of sustainable urban expansion, housing policies, and digital transformation in urban planning.
In a speech delivered during the forum, the minister affirmed that Qatar, based on its National Vision 2030, adopts an integrated planning approach that links sustainable urban development, modern transport networks, and environmental sustainability, in a way that contributes to enhancing the quality of life and raising the efficiency of resource use.
HE al-Attiyah said that building sustainable cities is now a strategic necessity to ensure quality of life and enhance the ability of societies to face future challenges, including climate change and rapid economic and technological transformations.
He pointed to the pivotal role played by the public transport system in Qatar, especially the Doha Metro network, in supporting balanced urban development, reducing emissions, and enhancing connectivity between different urban areas.
The minister also addressed Qatar's experience in developing pioneering urban projects, especially Lusail City and Msheireb Downtown Doha, as two models that reflect the state's commitment to developing advanced urban communities that combine sustainability, innovation and quality of life.
HE al-Attiyah also pointed out that digital transformation has become one of the main pillars in the development of modern cities, through the use of geographic information systems, digital twins, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, which enhances the efficiency of data-based urban planning and supports knowledge-based decision-making.