Dubai Real Estate Institute and FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, Organize First Comprehensive Urban Thinkers Campus in the Middle East  ~  More Than 150 Global Experts Assemble to Discuss ‘The City We Need’

Dubai, United Arab Emirates:  According to UN reports, the world is undergoing a large wave of urban growth. Global population will increase to 2.5 billion people within the next 30 years and many of these people will become urban dwellers. Cities throughout the world will face both opportunities and challenges in meeting the needs of this growing population requiring imperative economic, social and environmental transformations.

The Dubai Real Estate Institute (“DREI”) in a strategic relationship with FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation, have joined forces to organize the first comprehensive Urban Thinkers Campus in the Middle East, one of 28 campuses worldwide to be held at the Maydan Hotel on 10th & 11th of January.

The event will include more than 150 specialists from various fields to discuss urban solutions for the UN Habitat’s new Urban Strategy 2036 and the best practices of prominent cities in the world which have applied UN international standards of sustainability, smart cities, economic vibrancy and inclusiveness.

Danielle Grossenbacher, FIABCI World President stated, “We are so honoured to partner with DREI to coordinate this event in the city of Dubai which is an example of a great city that resembles all standards of sustainably, economic vibrancy and resilience. The hosting of this event in Dubai is extremely important to the whole region as its final publication will be integrated in the UN New Urban Agenda 2036.”

Mahmoud El Burai,CEO of the Dubai Real Estate Institute and head of the Organizing Committee stated that “the Urban Thinkers Campus provides an important forum to share and discuss the best practices focused on ‘The City We Need.’ We are assembling leading stakeholders including governments, private sectors, academia, children and university students to share their views on the world that we will live in 20 years from today.”

El Burai added, “During the Dubai Campus we will be discussing three themes which will include: ‘The City We Need is Smart and Sustainable,’ ‘The City We Need is Economically Vibrant’ and ‘The City We Need is Safe and Resilient.’

The Urban Thinkers Campus is an initiative of UN-Habitat conceived as an open space for critical exchange between urban leaders who believe that urbanization is an opportunity and can lead to positive urban transformations.