More than 45 million people – about 85 per cent of the total estimated population -- are expected to reside in GCC cities by 2020, the United Nations has estimated.

 

The latest revision of the World Urbanisaton Prospects report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs said a two per cent average annual urbanisation growth rate will exist across the Mena region until the end of the decade, as predominantly youthful populations gravitate toward cities in search of improved work opportunities and better lifestyles, said a report.

 

About 226 million people will be living in cities throughout the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) by 2020, accounting for nearly 62 per cent of the region’s total population, the report said.

 

The constant migration toward regional cities will put greater stress on already limited and underdeveloped urban infrastructure and resources.

 

Ensuring a city’s well-being, growth and development will be the key message at the Future Cities conference, taking place from October 8-10 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and running alongside the Cityscape Global exhibition.

 

Organised jointly by the Dubai Municipality, Environment Center for Arab Towns, the Arab Towns Organisation, and Informa Exhibitions, the three-day summit has attracted world-leading authorities on urban planning to discuss the key pillars of a prosperous city: security, water & waste management, tourism & hospitality, transport, energy management, disaster relief, and green building.

 

Beginning with an opening keynote address by Engineer Hussain Lootah, director general of the Dubai Municipality, Future Cities will feature a distinguished speaker panel, including Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, the UAE Minister of Environment & Water; and Abdeladim Lhafi, the High Commissioner for Water, Forests and Desertification in Morocco.

 

Comprising a two-day conference and a one-day urban planning workshop, Future Cities will highlight best practice case studies that ensure cities address regional challenges in order to remain internationally competitive, while looking at future directives to maintain sustainable growth, including the adoption of green technologies. – TradeArabia News Service