The second Cities in Action Forum, held at Expo City Dubai, has concluded, setting the stage for the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit (2025APCS) & Mayors’ Forum. The event, scheduled for October 2025, will be hosted in the Middle East for the first time. The forum brought together over 500 experts, investors, and policymakers to discuss the future of urban living and announced several initiatives to drive sustainable city development.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of International Cooperation and CEO of Expo City Dubai Authority, highlighted Expo City’s role in fostering collaboration and sustainable progress. Speaking through the Government of Dubai Media Office, she said, “We have proven that cities can be platforms for action…bringing decision-makers together to tackle global challenges.”

The forum also unveiled the Expo City Dubai Urban Framework, a benchmarking tool for cities to measure their performance against over 30 international standards. This framework aims to help cities improve areas like innovation, SME integration, and environmental stewardship. It also aggregates global metrics to guide strategic planning and investments.

The event officially opened registrations for the 2025APCS, which is expected to attract hundreds of mayors, city leaders, and over 1,000 professionals. Alongside this summit, Expo City will also host the Sustainable Destinations Summit in partnership with Green Destinations to promote eco-friendly tourism strategies.

Several key partnerships were announced during the forum. Dubai Chambers and Emicool signed agreements to partner with Expo City for the 2025APCS. Other organizations, including UN Habitat, AIM Congress, and the Arab Urban Development Institute, also committed to collaborating on the event. Additionally, Expo City signed an MoU with the Emirates Green Building Council to push for net-zero carbon construction practices in the UAE.

Expo City Dubai, with its strategic location near Al Maktoum International Airport and Jebel Ali Port, continues to position itself as a hub for innovation and economic growth. Delegate passes for the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayors’ Forum are now available starting from AED 2,608.