AUDI Hosts 23rd Webinar on Regional Development Models in the Arab World

The Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI) held, on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the 23rd session of its “Cities in Action" series on " From Cities to Regions: An Analysis of Regional Development Models in the Arab World", bringing together a wide range of specialists and professionals in urban development. 

Dr. Abdullah Difallah, the webinar moderator and professor of urban planning, opened the session, welcomed the attendees and participants and highlighted the importance of regional development and its interconnected dimensions, including urban economy, spatial analysis, and governance, while highlighting the transformations Arab cities are witnessing in their relationships with surrounding regions and environs.

Eng. Salim Rouhana, Senior Urban Development and Resilience Specialist and Task Team Leader at the World Bank for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan region, delivered a presentation on the evolving approach to urban development. He highlighted the shift from regarding cities as independent development units to understanding them as part of a broader system connecting cities, regions, and surrounding economic corridors. He emphasized that this interconnectedness is essential to addressing the challenges of future urban growth. 

Eng. Rouhana highlighted the key challenges facing Arab cities, including the concentration of growth and development opportunities in major cities, which is placing increasing pressure on housing sector, services, and employment, alongside disparities between major and secondary cities. He stressed the need for more balanced development models that enhance the role of secondary cities and boost their connectivity with surrounding cities and regions.

He also showcased several regional development experiences, including Morocco’s initiative to connect cities through economic and development corridors, highlighting the role of infrastructure, transport, and tourism in fostering integration between cities and their surrounding areas. He explained that the future of urban development requires expanding planning beyond individual city boundaries by integrating roles and enhancing planning, governance, and financing mechanisms to strengthen connectivity between cities and regions and achieve more balanced development.

The presentation was followed by a discussion moderated by Dr. Abdullah Daifallah, with Dr. Ziad Alam-Eddine, Director of Urban Policy Research Program at AUDI, focusing on the governance of relations between cities and regions, the roles of central and local governments in advancing regional integration, and the future of secondary cities. Attendees and participants' remarks and comments further explored regional planning and the role of technology in supporting urban and spatial development.

The meeting concluded with appreciation for Eng. Salim Rouhana for sharing his insights and practical expertise, as well as for the audience’s active participation and contributions, which enriched the discussion on the future of regional development in the Arab world.