Mena City Populations to reach 226 million by 2020 15.09.2013: UN report predicts strong regional urbanisation trends and challenges as

UN report predicts strong regional urbanisation trends and challenges as world-leading urban planners prepare for Future Cities conference


More than 226 million people will be living in cities throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by 2020, accounting for nearly 62 percent of the region’s total population, the United Nations (UN) has estimated.


According to the latest revision of the World Urbanisaton Prospects report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, a two per cent average annual urbanisation growth rate will exist across the MENA region until the end of the decade, as predominantly youthful populations gravitate toward cities in search of improved work opportunities and better lifestyles.


Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman in particular will have dense urban conglomerations, with 45.1 million people expected to reside in GCC cities by 2020 – 85 percent of the total estimated population.


The constant migration toward regional cities will put greater stress on already limited and underdeveloped urban infrastructure and resources, urging governments to implement strategies that create resilient and sustainable cities for the future.


Ensuring a city’s well being, growth and development will be the key message at the Future Cities conference, taking place from 8-10 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and running alongside the Cityscape Global exhibition.


Organised jointly by the Dubai Municipality, Environment Center for Arab Towns, the Arab Towns Organisation, and Informa Exhibitions, the three-day summit has attracted world-leading authorities on urban planning to discuss the key pillars of a prosperous city: security, water & waste management, tourism & hospitality, transport, energy management, disaster relief, and green building.


Beginning with an opening keynote address by H.E. Engineer Hussain Lootah, Director General of the Dubai Municipality, Future Cities will feature an unrivalled speaker panel, including H.E. Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of UAE Ministry of Environment & Water; and Abdeladim Lhafi, the High Commissioner for Water, Forests and Desertification in Morocco.


Comprising a two-day conference and a one-day urban planning workshop, Future Cities will highlight best-practice case studies that ensure cities address regional challenges in order to remain internationally competitive, while looking at future directives to maintain sustainable growth, including the adoption of green technologies.


Taher Diab, Director of Strategy & Planning for the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and a speaker on the first day of the conference, said that the emirate of Dubai has implemented a number of policies to encourage green technology adoption that will preserve its resources for future and growing populations.


“Prudent government policies are key drivers to regulate the market and draw investors in clean energy technologies”, said Diab. “Dubai is promoting the principles of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and has introduced regulations to boost the market dynamics for partnerships on a number of projects.


“Future Cities represents a platform to share the Dubai Supreme Council's strategic direction and plans on energy security and sustainability for Dubai. We are keen on promoting PPPs in deploying clean energy projects that maintain Dubai's growth.” 


Future Cities – supported by Commercial Bank of Dubai as Official Banking Sponsor and Lab Createrics as Sponsor – will explore the major issues facing world leaders and urban planning experts, including how cities carry out efficient water distribution; the positive impact tourism can have on the environment; how cities can plan for post-recession development; and what strategies can ensure that energy is affordable for everyone.


The region’s leading conference in sustainable urban development is co-located with the Global Real Estate Summit and the MENA Mortgage and Affordable Housing Congress, completing the conference line-up at Cityscape Global this year.


Now in its 12th edition, Cityscape Global 2013 has attracted more than 200 international and regional exhibitors covering 25,000sqm of exhibition space. The global real estate showcase has been on an upward growth curve since 2011, and will be the largest it has been in four years.



Middle East North Africa urban population outlook – 2020


Country    Population living in cities by 2020    Total population by 2020    % of total population living in cities by 2020    Average annual rate of urban population growth 2010-2020 (%)



UAE    7.9 million    9.2 million    86.7    2.3

Saudi Arabia    28.1 million    33.5 million    84.1    2

Oman    2.4 million    3.2 million    75.7    2

Bahrain    1.3 million    1.5 million    89.4    1.8

Qatar    2.1 million    2.2 million    99.5    2.3

Kuwait    3.3 million    3.4 million    98.4    2.1

GCC total    45.1 million    52.9 million    85    2.1

Algeria    31.8 million    40.1 million    79.4    2.2

Egypt    43.1 million    94.8 million    45.5    2

Libya    5.6 million    7 million    79.4    1.3

Morocco    21.2 million    35 million    60.4    1.5

Sudan    14.6 million    41.8 million    35.1    2.7

Tunisia    7.8 million    11.5 million    68.4    1.2

Iraq    28.4 million    42.6 million    66.7    3

Jordan    6.2 million    7.3 million    84.7    2

Lebanon    3.9 million    4.5 million    88.2    .7

Palestine    4 million    5.3 million    76.3    3

Syria    14.3 million    24 million    59.7    2.3



MENA total    226 million    366 million    61.7    2


Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division       




- Gareth Wright, Total Communications Dubai - also photo