Cities & Regions in Action:

Planning Pathways to Resilience and Quality of Life
1-4 December 2025

📍 Location: Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Cities are at the frontline of response to multiple crises that the contemporary world faces, which, if managed well, could open up tremendous possible futures for the way we plan, manage, and govern cities. As a home for already more than half of the world’s population, centers of innovation, magnets of talent, and locus of economic productivity, cities are uniquely placed to reflect on the quality of life, address well-being, and prototype solutions to global problems, capturing advances in Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of all people. At the same time, cities are called to lead the response to the climate crisis through localizing global frames of reference towards urban resilience.

At this crucial point, the global urban planning community and associated disciplines are rethinking processes, urban development models, and planning across scales to forge new pathways for cities to adapt to the convergence of crises and take on opportunities for a better quality of life for present and future generations. Cities and regions worldwide are putting strategies and resources, learning from peer networks, and prototyping new ways of planning and governing to accelerate implementation and act now.

At the 2025 World Planning Congress, ISOCARP calls on ‘Cities & Regions in Action’, to analyze, discuss, and search for better pathways for urban and regional planning aiming at improving the quality of life of citizens beyond the current time of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of crisis convergence and building resilience. The Congress also presents an opportunity to explore the possibilities of urban development for dynamic cities, reflect on alternative ways of planning yet at the same time think collectively on scalable solutions to the similar challenges that all cities and regions around the globe are called to face.

Congress Tracks

Track 1: Sustainable Urban Growth in a World of Multiple Crises 

Aligning long-term integrated spatial development strategies with the urgency of rapid urbanization in a world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA World) is essential to promote sustainable and equitable growth across both cities and their surrounding regions.

Action to secure sustainable growth through planning of large-scale urban developments and use of appropriate and livable density present a strategic opportunity to rethink value creation, ensuring that major investments are balanced with inclusive, integrated planning to mitigate the impacts of rapid urbanization. 

At the heart of sustainable city-regions, urban living and housing serve as a foundation for resilience, helping cities absorb growth and migration while ensuring no one is left behind. Community-centered approaches in urban development forge new ways to rethink resilient living and higher quality of life.  

To thrive, dynamic cities must come to a balanced urban-rural continuum, recognizing the critical interdependencies between urban areas, rural settlements and nature. Smart, inclusive regional planning leverages these connections, fostering mutually beneficial growth that enhances both urban and rural prosperity. 

Track 2: Urban Economy and the Digital Age: 24-hour City and AI  

Digital technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, are transforming urban and regional economies and lifestyles, accelerating the rise of 24-hour cities, always alive with fast paced leisure and work activities. Urban lifestyles are being transformed by remote work, global connectivity, an abundance of applications that change the way people move, take part in local life and interact with one another.

At the same time, citizens expect real time interaction with authorities and responsive services. Smarter planning tools are called to contribute to this digital transformation and harness the next wave of AI-driven innovation. The explosion of new, high-quality urban data offers cities and regions an unprecedented opportunity to chart their own path to prosperity, resilience and well-being while enhancing urban and regional decision-making across different scales. 

New urban economic strategies no longer rely on real estate profits and must prioritize economic diversification, community benefits, and local economic opportunities. The public sector plays a critical role in forging strategic partnerships to maximize these values and create thriving, inclusive economies. Integrating ESG principles, land value capture, tax incentives, and endowment systems can unlock funding resources for equitable urban development and economic prosperity. 

At the heart of this transformation, public-private-people partnerships—leveraging local knowledge and collective action—are essential for future-oriented cities in an era of global challenges. 

Track 3: Adaptation of Dynamic Cities to Extreme Climatic Conditions  

In regions facing extreme climate conditions, spatial planning has a huge role to play to understand vulnerabilities and enable cities and regions to withstand the growing impact of climate change. This is a massive and still evolving agenda, which starts by climate-proofing infrastructure, integrating sustainable retrofitting, and tailoring urban form to the unique challenges ahead, which can manifest as an overlapping of heatwaves, droughts, storms, and rainfall bursts.

As centers of sustainable development and climate action, cities and regions can draw on urban heritage and local know-how while investigating innovative strategies to navigate current and future climate conditions. 

Translating global climate commitments into local action and sustainability requires practical frameworks that align with community priorities, using nature-based solutions as key allies in establishing a new balance between nature and urban living. 

A proactive approach to disaster management, spanning prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery, is crucial to ensuring regions, cities and communities are equipped for an increasingly unpredictable climate and an uncertain future. 

Track 4: Culture, Identity, and Inclusive Urban Transformation  

Vibrant and inclusive urban spaces lie at the intersection of culture, identity, and placemaking in cities undergoing rapid change. Urban spaces are more than physical environments. They are a distinguishing factor in cities and a marker of unique lifestyles. As such, they are expected to reflect the cultural identities of communities, support multicultural expression, and help transform a city through a multiplicity of inclusive neighborhoods.

Leveraging culture to regenerate and animate urban neighborhoods explores novel ways of designing spaces for social interaction and cultural diversity, reflecting on biophilic approaches to identity in urban spaces, ensuring equitable access, innovative approaches for cultural expression and finding new ways to balance urban tourism with local communities’ rhythms. 

Track 5: Governing and Managing the Co-created Agile City 

Governance and urban management in the era of co-creation and Artificial Intelligence demands adaptive, forward-thinking models that empower cities and regions to have a continuous dialogue with citizens and at the same time localize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Innovative and agile governance frameworks, especially in times of crisis, can promote inclusive urban development, ensuring that local communities are actively involved in decision-making and solution-building. 

Without proactive and transparent governance and effective and adaptable management, cities risk weakened capacity to address critical urban challenges such as infrastructure deficits, informality, inequality, fragmentation, and social disconnection. 

Collaborative governance rooted in participation and community-driven approaches fosters innovation, collective problem-solving, and more inclusive service delivery, strengthening cities’ ability to adapt and thrive. 

Welcome Message to the 61st ISOCARP World Planning Congress – Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dear Colleagues and Partners, 

It is my distinct honor and privilege to welcome you to the 61st ISOCARP World Planning Congress (WPC61), to be held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 1–4 December 2025, under the inspiring theme: “Cities and Regions in Action: Planning Pathways to Resilience and Quality of Life.” 

As one of ISOCARP’s flagship initiatives, the World Planning Congress serves as a premier global platform for the exchange of ideas and practices and for knowledge sharing and creation among a diverse and distinguished community of policymakers, urban and regional planners, academics, practitioners, students, and thought leaders. Each year, the Congress facilitates vital conversations that shape the trajectory of planning for cities and regions worldwide, advancing inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking development strategies. 

This year’s theme underscores the urgent need for proactive, integrated planning approaches that strengthen resilience and enhance quality of life. It invites us to explore how urban and regional planning can become a powerful instrument of transformation—building communities that are not only adaptive to emerging challenges, but also inclusive, equitable, and thriving. 

We are especially proud to host WPC61 in Riyadh, a city undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by strategic vision, innovation, and cultural depth. Riyadh’s leadership in urban development offers a compelling context for dialogue, collaboration, and learning, and positions the Middle East as a pivotal region in the global planning discourse. 

On behalf of ISOCARP, I warmly invite members and non-members alike to join us in Riyadh for this important occasion. Your presence and contributions will enrich the Congress and help shape its impact on global urban and regional planning. 

I would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our host, the Riyadh Region Municipality, under the visionary leadership of His Highness Prince Faisal bin Abdul Aziz bin Ayyaf, for their unwavering support and partnership. 

A special note of thanks also goes to ISOCARP President, Ms. Elisabeth Belpaire, for her continued leadership, and to the Congress organizing team for their exceptional dedication and professionalism. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Riyadh for an engaging, thought-provoking, and impactful Congress. 

Warm regards,
Dr. Wafa Al-Daily 
Executive Board Member | Board Director of Congresses and Events

Call for Congress Team Members is CLOSED!

Meet our General Rapporteurs

The General Rapporteurs, supported by the ISOCARP Congress Director, oversee the development of congress content, including subthemes, sessions, and special sessions. They lead the Track Rapporteur team, guide the abstract review process, coordinate with the Host Organization, and ensure timely deliverables. Post-congress, they consolidate track results and prepare content summaries for publications. Acting as the key liaison for the World Planning Congress Team, they play a vital role in shaping the congress program and outcomes.

Ulrich Graute

Ulrich is a German academic, policy analyst, adviser and trainer living in Berlin. He supports international organisations, national governments, regional and local authorities in their international cooperation, strategy and capacity development towards a more sustainable urban and regional development. Over the last two years the interface between artificial intelligence, governance and development became a new focus area of his work. Ulrich is Chair of the ISOCARP Scientific Committee and Fellow of the British Academy of Social Science (ACSS).

Nadine Bitar Chahine

Nadine Bitar Chahine , managing director of Baladiya Catalyst, MENA native Women leader that was involved in the planning process of more than 45 large scale projects and advisor on urban policies, strategies and programs for Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dubai , Sharjah, Makkah, and Jeddah cities.

Her mission is to catalyze the transition towards liveable , sustainable , resilient and innovative MENA cities. As a recognised Global Top Voice in Urban Planning and Sustainable Development and recognised UN expert , Nadine Bitar actively addressed audiences in key international and regional platforms organiseld by United Nations, World Bank, GCC council, Arab League,MIT and others.She has convened and delivered peer learning , knowledge sharing and capacity building workshops across the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Kazakhistan, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE .Nadine Bitar advocates passionately for diversity and inclusion in the urban development industry sector focusing on women leadership , entrepreneurship and innovation. She also is the secretary general of ifla middle east and member of multiple regional and global organisations . She is registered architect with two masters in urban design and urban policy and currently doing a doctorate in sustainable urban development.