Urbanisation is a two step process. First, it entails the clustering of diverse people in a single space. Then, second, perfecting the urban experience becomes the predominant theme. While, by now, most people live in urban environment, emphasis has shifted predominantly to turning city scapes into smart, safe, clean and convenient places to live, work and socialise.

 

This session looks at the European and Arab Gulf experiences in developing the cities of the future. While the contexts may differ and the challenges may not be entirely in harmony, most of Europe and the Arab Gulf share the same goals in terms of urbanisation. The COVID-19 pandemic has only reinforced these goals and it may be the right time to start developing Euro-Gulf platforms to share experiences and expectations of urban development into the future.

 

The Euro-Gulf Information Centre (EGIC) invites you for an online discussion ‘Future of Smart
Cities in Europe and the Arab Gulf’ held on Friday, 12 June 2020, from 14:00 to 15:30 CEST via
Zoom.

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Speakers:

 

• Amnah Ibraheem, Policy researcher focused on emerging energy programmes in the Arab Gulf (Kuwait)

• Ehab Khalifa, Author, Expert in Smart Cities, and Lecturer in Cyber Politics (UAE)

• Pasquale Annicchino, Scientific Director of Lex Digital (Italy)

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The event will be moderated by Mitchell Belfer, President, Euro-Gulf Information Centre (Italy)

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1. Coping with Coronavirus: Euro-Gulf Perspectives

2. Terrorism in the Time of Coronavirus

3. Disinformation in the Time of Coronavirus

4. From Policy Makers to Experts: Foreign Policy Debates in a Pandemic

5. The Middle East after Coronavirus

6. Populism and Nationalism in the Time of Coronavirus

7. A Persistent Challenge: ISIS in the Time of Coronavirus

8. Pandenomics: The Economic Impact of Covid-19, 5 Years Forward

9. The Diversity of Crises: Yemen in the Time of COVID-19

10. Saudi Bureaucrats’ Incentives Jeopardize the Vision 2030 Implementation Plan

11. Talk About Crude Fluctuating Oil and COVID-19

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