The 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) will be held at the Egypt International Exhibitions Centre in New Cairo. This will mark the forum's return to Africa for the first time since its inaugural session in 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The event will feature prominent figures, including Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Anacláudia Rossbach, the UN-Habitat Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, who will deliver remarks during the opening ceremony. Also in attendance will be Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, and Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Sherif El-Sherbini.

Notable speakers include Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Prime Minister Madbouly will open the event with a press conference at 1:00 PM, followed by the official opening ceremony at 4:00 PM, which will include participation from several heads of state.

WUF12 will run daily from Monday through Friday, with sessions beginning at 8:00 AM and concluding at 6:30 PM. The forum is expected to draw over 20,000 attendees from more than 170 countries, including representatives from financing institutions, civil society, academia, the business community, and urban planning sectors. Attendees will engage in over 500 sessions and workshops, exchanging insights and ideas on various urban development issues.

An "Urban Expo" will also take place, showcasing the latest innovations and solutions to urban challenges. According to the official website, WUF12 will be live-streamed in six UN languages—Arabic, English, Chinese, Russian, French, and Spanish—along with Arabic and international sign languages.

The forum will focus on six key themes:

1. Housing Our Future: Addressing global housing challenges.

2. Cities and the Climate Crisis: Exploring cities' roles in climate action through adaptation and mitigation.

3. Stronger Together: Highlighting partnerships between governments, businesses, and communities to foster resilient, inclusive cities.

4. Financing Localisation and Localising Finance: Enhancing local governments' access to finance and developing financial systems to support sustainable urban growth.

5. Putting People First in a Digital Era: Utilising technology for inclusive urban solutions.

6. The Loss of Home: Addressing displacement caused by global crises.

WUF12 aims to promote localised solutions to the unprecedented urban challenges facing the world today, including rapid urbanisation, rising urban poverty, housing shortages, and climate change impacts. It will also underscore the urban development priorities of developing nations in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a platform to share innovative strategies and community-led successes.

To facilitate attendee transportation, Egypt's Ministry of Transport will provide 100 eco-friendly buses—70 electric and 30 gas-powered—free of charge. Additionally, discounted Uber rides will be available.

WUF12 General Coordinator Ambassador Atef Salem emphasised to Ahram Online the significance of hosting this global forum in Egypt, calling it an opportunity to showcase Egypt's capacity to host major UN conferences following the successful COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022.

The UN established the World Urban Forum in 2001, with the first event held in Nairobi, Kenya 2002. Since then, WUF has convened biennially in various cities worldwide. It is now recognised as the UN's second most significant event after the climate summit.