Baku is preparing to host the World Urban Forum this weekend, with more than 32,000 participants from 180 countries expected to arrive in the Azerbaijani capital for the six-day event.
The forum, organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), is one of the world’s largest gatherings focused on cities, urban planning and sustainable development.
It brings together government officials, architects, environmental experts, investors and civil society representatives to discuss how cities can respond to growing pressures linked to climate change, migration and rapid urbanisation.
Ahead of the opening on Sunday, journalists were given a special tour of the Baku Olympic Stadium, which has been transformed into a large-scale conference and exhibition venue.
Ali Mammadov, executive director of the WUF13 Azerbaijan Operating Company, said: “The venue for the WUF13 event covers 53 hectares, including the Baku Olympic Stadium and the overall operational scope formed around it. Of this, 10 hectares are designated for transportation.”
Organisers have divided the stadium into several themed zones inspired by Azerbaijan’s urban planning traditions. One section, known as Zone A, includes five streets named after Azerbaijani cities.
“Urban planning traditions were prioritised in the design of the Baku Olympic Stadium,” Mammadov said.
At the centre of the venue is the Urban Expo Zone, a 3.5-hectare exhibition space where countries and organisations will present projects linked to smart cities, sustainable infrastructure and future urban development.
“The Urban Expo Zone covers 3.5 hectares. This area will accommodate exhibition spaces for all participants,” Mammadov said.
A total of 41 countries are participating with national pavilions, including Azerbaijan’s own 1,500-square-metre pavilion showcasing local urban development projects and infrastructure initiatives.
“A total of 41 countries will participate with pavilions, including the Azerbaijan Pavilion, which covers 1,500 square metres,” he added.
Throughout the forum, organisers expect up to 300 sessions and meetings to take place each day, ranging from high-level diplomatic discussions to technical workshops hosted across 121 pavilions at the Urban Expo.
For Azerbaijan, hosting the World Urban Forum is being presented as an opportunity to showcase its long-term vision for urban development and strengthen its profile as a host of major international events.
In recent years, Baku has hosted high-profile sporting tournaments, diplomatic gatherings and climate-related conferences as part of broader efforts to position itself as a regional hub connecting Europe and Asia.
This year’s World Urban Forum will also include a leaders’ summit for the first time in the event’s history, reflecting the growing political importance of urban policy and sustainable city planning.
As final preparations continue around the Olympic Stadium, workers, volunteers and organisers are racing to complete the final details before delegates begin arriving in the coming days.
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