More than 15,000 urban leaders, policymakers, and innovators from over 600 cities worldwide converged Expo city Dubai today as the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum officially opened, marking a historic first for the event in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region.
The three-day summit, running through October 29 at, brings together 118 mayors, deputy mayors, business executives, and young professionals under the banner “Collaborate. Inspire. Transform.” Organized by Brisbane City Council at the legacy site of Expo 2020 Dubai, the gathering represents the 15th edition of a summit with a 30-year tradition of fostering urban innovation and cross-regional cooperation.
The timing and location carry particular significance. Delegates are meeting at the same venue that hosted COP28 and its landmark “UAE Consensus” on climate action, underscoring the summit’s focus on addressing urgent challenges facing cities worldwide, from climate resilience to digital infrastructure gaps.
Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, opened the summit at the iconic Al-Wasl Plaza, emphasizing the power of urban collaboration. “Cities are not only places where people live, but living systems that learn, adapt and inspire,” she told attendees.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, whose city established the summit in 1996, highlighted the growing urgency of urban cooperation. “With the huge shift around the globe from rural areas into cities, the role of cities is going to become more important in the future. Unity and coming together has never been more important. We have come together not simply to share best practices but to learn, to connect and to remind ourselves that we are stronger when cities work together,” he said.
The summit’s agenda revolves around three strategic themes: connecting communities through transportation and digital infrastructure, developing technology-driven solutions that empower residents, and building resilience against climate disasters and economic shocks. A dedicated Mayors’ Forum will facilitate direct city-to-city dialogues, while a Market Square showcases cutting-edge urban technology from exhibitors worldwide.
International business leaders are also seizing the opportunity to forge new partnerships. Linda Pereira, Secretary General of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Business Confederation, which represents a market of 250 million people across Africa, Asia, and South America, pointed to India as an example of sustainable urban growth. “We have lots of connections with countries that are actually changing the global landscape, such as India, through Goa. We are watching these big economies like India develop and grow in a smart way. They are changing little by little, but the thinking of doing it in a way that not only elevates the capacity for development in their country, but mitigates the problems that may come in the future,” she noted.
Delegates expect the summit to yield concrete results, including strengthened global city alliances, increased investments in resilient infrastructure, and actionable strategies for inclusive urban development.