During his speech, El-Sisi said that WUF12 convenes at a critical time as the world grapples with successive global crises, including devastating wars and their catastrophic repercussions for cities, urban communities, and all walks of life.

He stressed the need to mobilize efforts and exercise political will to establish peace, terminate conflicts, and prioritize development, reconstruction, and rebuilding.

"Only then can we embark on serious endeavours to address urban challenges in societies ravaged by wars, fighting, displacement, famine, and disease," he noted.

El-Sisi further said that wars and conflicts raging in the Middle East, especially in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, might be serving as a stark reminder of the severe losses that nations incur as a result of opting for war and conflict over peace and stability.

"The daily suffering endured by the peoples of these countries necessitates urgent and vigorous response to end the bloodshed and destruction and embark on reconstruction and development," he said.

Additionally, El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting its brothers in ending the violence and mitigating the severity of the humanitarian, economic, and social repercussions.

WUF12 drew several heads of state and prominent international figures, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, and Anacláudia Rossbach, UN-Habitat’s undersecretary-general and executive director.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi also attended and delivered remarks at the ceremony.

In a virtual speech, the UN Secretary-General described the forum's hosting city, Cairo, as a vibrant megacity and a magnet for innovation and creativity for over a thousand years, looking forward to further opportunities for sustainable urban development during the forum.

Guterres further noted that cities are powerful engines of social and economic development and catalysts of sustainable solutions, considering local and regional authorities crucial to the solution on many issues and at every level, including the UN.

Meanwhile, UN-Habitat’s Executive Director affirmed the genesis of WUF12, noting that the UN General Assembly approved the forum 23 years ago as a non-legislative conference — a place for stakeholders to come and share.

"It was later also recognized as one of the platforms for monitoring and reporting on the new urban agenda, our common global commitment to sustainable urbanization," she said.

For his part, the Mayor of The Hague expressed his pleasure in participating at WUF12. "I have the pride and the pleasure of representing the self-organized constituency of local and regional governments gathered within the global task force," he said.

Speaking during the event, the chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council affirmed that President El-Sisi is leading an unprecedented urban renaissance in Egypt. 

Addressing the Yemeni crisis, Al-Alimi expressed his thanks to Egypt and the members of the Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen for their efforts, noting that the country has suffered over $650 billion in losses due to the ongoing war.

Additionally, the chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council affirmed that Egypt has achieved significant accomplishments and a comprehensive developmental renaissance, proving its ability to turn challenges into opportunities under El-Sisi’s leadership. 

Al-Burhan also referred to the ongoing war in Sudan, noting that the Sudanese people are facing a battle that targets their future and national resources. He emphasized that Sudan's people and armed forces are determined to preserve the state.

Furthermore, the Palestinian President highlighted Egypt's great strides in building sustainable urban cities.

Abbas also addressed the Israeli brutal aggression in the Gaza Strip, stating that his participation in the forum comes amidst destruction, genocide, and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Israeli occupation. 

"Eighty percent of Gaza’s homes, facilities, hospitals, and schools have been destroyed," he said, noting that the Israeli aggression imposes significant challenges that hinder sustainable urban development in Palestine. 

WUF12, held from 4 to 8 November 2024 under the theme “It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities," is convened by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). It marks the forum's return to Africa for the first time in over twenty years.

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