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.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that...
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Kazakhstan comes amid rising geopolitical uncertainty across Eura...
Baku is preparing to host the World Urban Forum this weekend, with more than 32,000 ...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thurs...
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump are holding high-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, following a ceremonial welcome, w...
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Kazakhstan comes amid rising geopolitical uncertainty across Eurasia, as conflicts in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East reshape trade routes, security priorities, and regional cooperation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
Foreign ministers from the expanded BRICS bloc gathered in New Delhi on Thursday (14 May) for a crucial two-day meeting overshadowed by the ongoing Iran war, internal tensions within the grouping and mounting fears over global energy supplies.
Azerbaijan’s chairing of the inaugural Global South NGO Platform (GSNP) assembly in Baku highlights the country’s commitment to regional cooperation, the international civil society network’s Secretary-General has said.
Just one week after a similar move by Australia, Greece announced that it will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, as governments around the world weigh tougher rules amid growing concerns over mental health, safety and screen addiction.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran loomed over U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, as signs emerged that the conflict is causing a shift in alliances across the Middle East.
The 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has officially opened on the French Riviera, once again transforming Cannes into the global centre of cinema, fashion, and entertainment.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not think he will need China's help to end the war with Iran as he left for a high-stakes summit in Beijing on Tuesday, as hopes for a lasting peace deal dwindled and Tehran tightened its grip over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has instructed his first deputy to fulfill the public’s expectations regarding the access to the Internet services and platforms amid a wartime shut-down of international connection since late February.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Kazakhstan comes amid rising geopolitical uncertainty across Eurasia, as conflicts in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East reshape trade routes, security priorities, and regional cooperation.
Azerbaijan’s chairing of the inaugural Global South NGO Platform (GSNP) assembly in Baku highlights the country’s commitment to regional cooperation, the international civil society network’s Secretary-General has said.
Türkiye and Armenia’s decision to allow direct trade marks one of the clearest signs yet of a gradual shift in relations between the long-time rivals, although analysts say the immediate economic impact is likely to remain modest.
Türkiye has issued 20,000 work visas to Afghan citizens for jobs in the livestock sector, the Turkish Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul said during talks with Afghanistan’s refugee minister on Wednesday.
Georgia ranked second only to Türkiye for the number of citizens expelled from the European Union in 2025, according to new Eurostat data, placing the South Caucasus country at the centre of growing tensions over migration, visa-free travel and its deteriorating ties with Brussels.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment