Expo City Dubai Set to Welcome Global City Leaders for Asia Pacific Cities Summit 2025

For the first time in the Middle East, Expo City Dubai will host the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors Forum 2025. The event is one of the largest and most diverse global gatherings of mayors, city leaders and entrepreneurs.

A number of cities from across Asia-Pacific have applied to host this event, which will kick off at the Dubai Exhibition Center from October 27 to 29, 2025. By connecting the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region with the Asia-Pacific region, this event will bring together a wide range of experts and leaders who are at the forefront of working to shape cities for the future. The focus will be on creating business opportunities and investing in sustainable growth and urban development plans.

Who Can Attend?

Originating as an initiative of the Australian Brisbane City Council, the summit has evolved into a global event. The 2025 session, organized by Expo City Dubai, will welcome mayors, government leaders, policy makers, entrepreneurs, startups, youth and senior academics from all over the world to participate in programs and events that are co-developed and planned by the Dubai Expo Group.

Reem Al Hashemi, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO of the Dubai Expo City Authority, said:

“Expo City Dubai is a unique destination for living and working near the new Al Maktoum International Airport and the Dubai Exhibition Centre. It is also a meeting place for decision-makers and businessmen interested in cooperation. In order to achieve sustainable growth, we are proud to have been chosen from among a number of global cities that competed to host the 2025 Asia-Pacific Cities Summit.”

What Does the Event Offer to Delegates?

• Explore promising opportunities and ideas for future cities that will change the world
• Connect with keynote speakers and global city leaders
• Access to members of the Asia Pacific Cities Summit Network and the award-winning Mayors Forum
• Contributing to key dialogues discussing the future of cities
• Opportunities to conclude business deals, achieve tangible results and ongoing support for participants’ business development

Commenting on that, Abdullah Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary-General of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, said:

“Cities are a stimulating environment for investment, the well-being of communities, and the fruitful exchange of ideas, and we embrace innovative solutions to make cities more livable, more efficient, and more flexible. Dubai Expo City plays an essential role in developing future cities in the region and the world”

28-year-old Event

Founded by Australia's Brisbane City Council 28 years ago, with more than 600 cities participating to date, the Asia-Pacific Cities Summit is seen as a signature event for the Asia-Pacific region, promoting economic growth and collaboration across cities.

The summit is organized every two years, alternating between Brisbane and other cities. Previous international hosts include Seattle (2001), China's Chongqing (2005), South Korea's Incheon (2009), Taiwan's Kaohsiung (2013), and South Korea's Daejeon (2017).

Expo City Dubai has previously hosted global events including Expo 2020 Dubai and the largest climate action conference ever, the 28th United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) in 2023. It also organized the inaugural Sustainable Cities Forum 2024, which shared innovations and solutions and explored ways to stimulate positive urban development across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.