Returning to the African continent more than 20 years after its first edition in Nairobi, the World Urban Forum will host its Twelfth Session (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, from 4 to 8 November in the Egypt International Exhibition Center. Convened by UN Habitat under the theme “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” WUF12 will spotlight local planning initiatives, actions, and other measures required to curb the current global challenges affecting the daily lives of communities – from unaffordable housing, rising living costs, and lack of basic services to climate change and ongoing conflicts. With narratives from cities as far apart as Los Angeles, Cairo, Nigeria, Ghana, Barcelona and Brisbane, WUF12 will steer illuminating conversations on sustainable, innovative, and inclusive urban planning as a pathway to creating more sustainable cities and communities and meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

As one of the Middle East and Africa’s leading planning consultancies, Dar will join its global partners at WUF12, hosting our own highly sustainable booth in Hall 4, H04-G12. Dar’s Planning and Urban Design department has prepared more than 200 master plans, including the nationwide Kuwait Master Plan 2040,  Egypt’s own New Administrative Capital, Nigeria’s Ibadan and Ilorin, Pakistan’s Lahore, and many more cities and new developments around the world.

Building on extensive insights derived from these projects, Dar’s planning and urban design experts will contribute extensively on conversations ranging from national master planning, infrastructure planning, sustainability and inclusivity, heritage, regeneration and sustainable development, and more.

Dar’s Planning and Urbanism team will also present their work on Future Enterprise at the event, with our experts showcasing the embedding of industrial symbiosis and climate-smart solutions into our Special Economic Zones and  Eco-Industrial Parks.

On the sidelines of WUF12, Dar will also be participating in a series of side events, organized by the World Green Building Council.

• On November 5^th at the Westin Hotel New Cairo, Dar’s Director of Digital Solutions Faysal Shair will join the WorldGBC’s “Leading the Transformation: Building a resilient and zero carbon future in the Middle East & Africa” side event. The critical event brings together sustainability leaders across MENA and Africa to accelerate the transition to a resilient, zero-carbon built environment, while covering progress on regional sustainability frameworks such as the MENA region’s Zero Carbon & Climate Resilience Readiness Framework as well as the Africa Manifesto. Taking place from 5:30-6:00 PM Cairo time, Faysal’s presentation will focus on the role of digital twin technology in optimising building lifecycle performance and achieving net-zero targets.
• On November 7^th from 13:00 to 14:30 Cairo time, Dar’s Sustainability Manager Hala Omar will also join another panel discussion organised by the World Green Building Council entitled “Pathways to Net Zero: System innovations for emerging urban centres and zero carbon readiness in Middle East & Africa.” Hala will share her experiences in designing sustainable cities and communities in Egypt and beyond.

We look forward to engaging with global and local partners at WUF12, to shape conversations on sustainable development and inclusive planning, for the benefit of all the communities we serve.