BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 12. An open-air WUF13
Boulevard has been created for participants of the World Urban
Forum, Trend
reports.
This was announced during the review of the preparations for the
13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take
place from May 17 to 22, by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev at the Baku Olympic Stadium on May 12.
The boulevard covers 2.5 hectares. Designed as a public
urban-style space, it will allow participants to move freely,
relax, and access catering services. The boulevard also serves as a
transition to the "Expo Zone" and functions as a public space.
The Urban Expo Zone covers 3.5 hectares and features exhibition
spaces for national pavilions, international organizations,
government agencies, local authorities, the private sector, NGOs,
foundations, and academic institutions. In total, 121 pavilions
have been established, including 41 national pavilions.
The ceremonial components of the forum have been meticulously
planned. A dedicated flag square has been prepared for official
ceremonies and designed with fortress-wall motifs intended to evoke
the atmosphere of a historic city environment.
An additional 10-hectare zone for transport terminals and
parking-transfer functions has been integrated into the operational
area. This zone will manage bus and taxi services, parking, and
participant orientation. The city’s transport interchange centers,
electric buses, and airport transfers are fully integrated into the
event’s general transportation plan.
The registration area can serve up to 70 people simultaneously
and process approximately 1,000 participants per hour. Separate
accreditation and registration desks have been set up for persons
with disabilities. Registration operations have been developed by
the Azerbaijani operational team in line with the forum’s
requirements and adapted for phased participant management.
WUF13, jointly organized by UN-Habitat and the Government of
Azerbaijan, is expected to once again place Azerbaijan at the
center of global attention. To date, 32,225 participants from 180
countries have registered for the event, already making it a record
figure in the history of WUF. During this prestigious event,
Azerbaijan will present its unprecedented reconstruction and urban
development model in Garabagh and East Zangezur. This includes the
"smart city" and "smart village" concepts applied in the liberated
territories and the transformation of these regions into "green
energy zones" – serving as leading global examples of modern
urbanization and ecological restoration. Notably, WUF13 marks the
first time in the history of the World Urban Forum that a Leaders'
Summit segment has been included in the program.
