UCLG‑MEWA actively participated in the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026, under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.” Local leaders from across the MEWA region contributed to high‑level assemblies and thematic sessions, emphasizing the centrality of housing as a matter of dignity, resilience, and inclusion.
The delegation’s engagements began with the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments (WALRG) on May 17, where leaders, including Uğur İbrahim Altay (Mayor of Konya, UCLG Executive President), Ahmet Metin Genç (Mayor of Trabzon, UCLG‑MEWA Co‑President), Şenol Kul (Mayor of Terme), Dr. Mehmet Duman (Secretary General of UCLG‑MEWA), Abdallah Anati (Executive Director, APLA), and Mohammad Ali Shafiee (Municipality of Tehran), underscored the importance of multilateral collaboration. They highlighted that housing must be understood not only as shelter but as identity and belonging, with local governments positioned as first responders and providers of essential services.
On May 19, UCLG‑MEWA co‑organized the session “Bridging the Urban Leadership Gap: The Arab Mayors Academy” with UN‑Habitat ROAS and UN ESCWA. Delivering remarks on behalf of Dr. Duman, Reem Abusamra emphasized the Academy’s role in empowering local leaders through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and regional cooperation. In the discussion part, Ms. Absamra presented UCLG‑MEWA’s #ResilientMEWA Vision, built on three pillars for resilient, inclusive, and future‑ready communities.
In the session “Beyond Shelter: Data‑Driven Housing for Better Quality of Life” organized by Al Madina Region Development Authority, Dr. Mehmet Duman stressed that in conflict‑affected countries such as Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and Yemen, housing is about survival and reconstruction, while Türkiye and Saudi Arabia demonstrate how resilience and partnerships can transform communities. He noted that the challenge lies in keeping housing systems inclusive for low‑income groups while attracting private investment, framing housing as the rebuilding of lives rather than just construction of units.
At the Local and Regional Governments Roundtable, leaders, including Fahad Albuleshi, Mayor of Madinah, shared practices from their cities, reinforcing the value of peer‑to‑peer learning and platforms that disseminate local innovations globally.
On May 21, during the session “SDGs in Action: Bridging the Gap for Local Climate Solutions” organized by UCLG ASPAC, Dr. Duman highlighted that the Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved globally only if implemented locally. He emphasized that city‑to‑city cooperation accelerates innovation and makes global commitments tangible. Dr. Serdar Koyuncu of Konya Metropolitan Municipality complemented this with best practices on construction and demolition waste management.
In the session “When Housing Brings Cities Together: Local Cooperation in Practice”, organized with APLA, Al‑Bireh Municipality, and Marmara Municipalities Union, UCLG‑MEWA Communications Coordinator Junaid Rafiq stressed the pivotal role of municipal associations. He argued that associations must evolve into infrastructures of cooperation, enabling cities to move from dialogue to delivery. He identified continuity and systematic follow‑up as the most practical steps for the coming years, ensuring housing agendas survive political transitions. He concluded by framing housing as a matter of dignity, resilience, and inclusion, urging associations to guarantee that partnerships translate into tangible homes and thriving communities.
Beyond these sessions, UCLG-MEWA held several bilateral meetings with partners, including UN ESCWA, UN-Habitat Jordan, Aqaba Municipality, and Human Environmental Association for Development, with the aim of strengthening cooperation with its stakeholders in addressing different urban and development challenges, and reinforcing its commitment to advancing housing solutions and building more resilient urban futures through partnership and solidarity.
