'Global City' comes to Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED) and the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) are sponsoring and supporting Global City, which is being brought to this region for the first time by the event's owners, Reed Exhibitions.

Global City Abu Dhabi on January 20 and 21 will have sustainability and global warming as key themes. Several hundred delegates are expected to attend the event, including local elected representatives from around the world, and private and public sector players and top consultants.

At a press conference and diplomats' briefing at the Emirates Palace here today, ADCED and the UPC projected Abu Dhabi's emphasis on sustainable urban development and the emirate's growth as a business and tourism hub.

Mohamed Rashed Al Hameli, Deputy Director General of ADCED, noted that the central idea of the forum is that local authorities play an important role in the future of Planet Earth and must therefore place sustainability at the heart of urban planning policies. "The Abu Dhabi Government agrees with this premise and is committed to sustainable urban planning. Global City Abu Dhabi will reinforce that commitment," he said.

"Abu Dhabi's vision is to be a true global city - to be an icon in the region for culture, a leading financial centre and a major industrial zone, with a cosmopolitan population. Abu Dhabi will be a global city in spirit and substance", he added.

"We expect this event to win world-wide recognition for Abu Dhabi as an emerging global city, while enabling participants from around the world to discuss and share experiences and new solutions in urban planning and development. However, more important is the knowledge that we gain from the event, which will include lectures and workshops from academics, sustainability experts and visionary local leaders," added Al Hameli.

Falah Al Ahbabi, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) said: "Abu Dhabi has taken globally recognized, unique initiatives to support sustainability. The UAE capital is fast emerging as a global city, and the forum will help local and regional urban planners to gain a deeper understanding about urban planning issues and solutions.

Sustainability is already a central theme in Plan Abu Dhabi 2030, which is the city's urban structure framework plan".

"Global City participants from around the world will have a first hand opportunity to learn about Abu Dhabi's urban planning, development and sustainability initiatives," added Al Ahbabi.

Global City Abu Dhabi will host a number of invited political leaders and local council leaders.

In addition, an equal number of delegates representing professionals, businesses and accredited international media are expected to attend.

Global City's innovative format includes several workshops and sessions allowing city administrators and their private sector partners to compare and exchange their experiences and best practices in establishing sustainable urban development policies.

The role of cities in reducing carbon emissions, promoting urban energy policy, the economic impact of sustainable development strategies and the use of culture as a driver for sustainability, are just a sample of the subjects that will be debated at Global City.

Frederic Theux, President of Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said it is an honour for Reed to bring the forum to Abu Dhabi. "A key reason for Reed's leadership in the exhibitions and conferences industry is the fact that we bring the right people to an event, and take the event to the right places", he said.

"Abu Dhabi's on-going urban planning strategy, which fully integrates economic, social and environmental prerequisites, was a major factor in our decision to bring the conference to the Emirate. Reed's decision reflects the dynamism of the Emirate and its clear commitment to providing tangible solutions to the challenges facing cities across the world, as they seek to combine strong economic growth and diversification with sustainable environment priorities," added Theux.

Reed launched Global City in 2005 in Cannes, France, and the second and third editions of the event were held in Lyon in 2006 and 2007.

The last Global City, held in May 2007 with the slogan of "Creating a sustainable future for our cities", attracted about 900 participants from 46 countries to hear urban planning solutions adopted by cities from around the world.