According to the World Bank, 192 million people in MENA reside in urban areas, representing 58 per cent of the total population of 331 million. UN projections predict that the overall MENA population will reach 430 million by 2020, of which 280 million are expected to be located in cities, representing an increase of 45 per cent, compared to the projected rural increase of 8.5%.

The rapidly increasing urbanisation of the MENA region and the corresponding challenges it faces will be highlighted at the Future Cities Conference and Exhibition, where global case studies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Australia will be presented, showcasing how innovation and transformation in sustainable urban strategy can be applied.