About
The Arab European Cities Dialogue
Launched in May 2025 in Riyadh, the Arab European Cities Dialogue (AECD) is a biannual, inter-regional initiative designed to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and partnership between mayors, city leaders, and officials from Arab and European cities, alongside
international organizations, development partners, and financing institutions.
Rooted in the spirit of cooperation, the AECD aims to strengthen the developmental ties between the Arab region and Europe by harnessing the power of city diplomacy as a driver for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban development. Planned as a ten-year initiative, the AECD will convene alternately in Arab and European cities, creating a long-term platform for exchange and co-creation across both regions.
AECD Background
In an era of increased complexity and uncertainty, cities can play a central role in framing our common future.
The AECD was created to bring Arab and European cities together as powerful partners in shaping a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban future. It turns shared challenges into opportunities for collaboration, innovation and impact.
Cities at the Center of Global Change.
In a world marked by climate change, economic uncertainty and rapid technological disruption, cities sit on the frontline of every major global challenge. Urban areas concentrate most emissions, economic activity, human capital and rising inequality, making them both hotspots of risk and engines of opportunity. By 2050, around 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities, which makes local action essential to achieving global goals such as the 2030 SDGs, particularly SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
A Dedicated Arab–European Platform.
Arab and European cities face many of the same pressures: overstretched services, environmental degradation, social tensions and rising vulnerability. At the same time, they hold complementary assets, experiences and perspectives that can inspire new solutions when brought together. AECD was created as a space where these cities can meet, exchange and co-design responses that are grounded in real local needs, yet connected to global agendas.
Cities’ Diplomacy as a New Lever.
Diplomacy is no longer reserved only for nation states. Cities are increasingly building their own international relations, alliances and networks to advocate for their priorities, influence global debates and deepen mutual understanding. AECD leverages this emerging “cities’ diplomacy” to move beyond geopolitical tensions and cultural misunderstandings, offering a neutral, constructive arena where Arab and European city leaders, partners and stakeholders can speak directly to one another and act together.
From Aid to Partnerships and Co-Creation for Economic Development and Quality of Life.
Traditional “North–South” development models are no longer enough to respond to today’s complex urban challenges. What cities now need are forward-looking partnerships based on experimentation, collective learning and joint problem-solving. AECD promotes exactly this shift: from one-way support to genuine cooperation, where Arab and European cities test new ideas, share what works and co-create pathways to better quality of life, stronger local economies and more sustainable urban development.
Objectives
Enhance Communication
Facilitate open discussions among mayors, city experts, and practitioners to
share good practices and tackle common urban challenges.
Facilitate open discussions among mayors, city experts, and practitioners toshare good practices and tackle common urban challenges.
Enhance Financing Opportunities
Bring together Arab and European cities with development and financial
institutions to explore innovative funding mechanisms and partnership
governance.
Bring together Arab and European cities with development and financial institutions to explore innovative funding mechanisms and partnership governance.
Build Partnerships
Foster networking sessions between cities to identify synergies and develop
potential future collaborations.
Foster networking sessions between cities to identify synergies and develop potential future collaborations.
Formulate Frameworks
Engage cities, development agencies, and experts in co-designing an Urban
Development Agenda for Arab municipalities, drawing lessons from the
European Urban Agenda.
Engage cities, development agencies, and experts in co-designing an Urban Development Agenda for Arab municipalities, drawing lessons from the European Urban Agenda.