The “Measuring Quality of Life in the Middle East and West Asia” Workshop was held on May 29, 2025, in Aksaray, Türkiye, as part of the UCLG-MEWA Executive Bureau Meeting. The event was organized in collaboration with UCLG-MEWA and UN-Habitat Quality of Life Initiative.
The event began with opening remarks from Dr. Ali Murat Duman, General Coordinator of UCLG-MEWA, who emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in enhancing urban well-being across the region. This was followed by a presentation from Dr. Agata Krause, Senior Specialist for Partnership and Institutional Engagement at the Quality of Life Initiative. Dr. Krause provided an in-depth introduction to the Quality of Life Initiative, outlining its core objectives, methodology, and the structure of the Quality of Life Index. She highlighted how the index serves as a comprehensive tool for evaluating urban life across multiple dimensions.
Following this, Dr. Reem Abusamra, UCLG-MEWA’s International Relations Coordinator, discussed the specific quality of life challenges facing cities in the MEWA region. She illustrated how the Quality of Life Initiative can support municipalities in identifying gaps, prioritizing actions, and implementing targeted solutions to improve the overall well-being of their communities.
The workshop featured speakers Leila Youssef from the Greater Irbid Municipality, Abdulrazzaq Khleifat from the Greater Salt Municipality, and Murat Kodaz from the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye. Together, they shared insights from their respective cities and institutions, discussing the main development challenges impacting quality of life in urban areas across the Middle East and West Asia. The speakers explored how quality of life indicators have changed in recent years, the evolving priorities of their cities in response to these shifts, and the major obstacles they face in delivering better living conditions for their residents.
The workshop offered a valuable opportunity to explore the potential and challenges of implementing the Quality of Life Index in cities throughout the region, contributing to broader efforts aimed at enhancing urban well-being and sustainable development.