HOPE 2027 - The Intergenerational City
Housing, People & Environment, an international forum on architecture, urbanism, and sustainable development, taking place on 25 March 2027 at NEXUS- The Hub, Expo City Dubai.
This year's forum explores how cities can be designed to serve people of all generations, creating environments that encourage inclusion, knowledge exchange, wellbeing, and resilience. As societies face demographic shifts and rapid urban transformation, HOPE 2027 will examine how architecture, planning, technology, and public policy can strengthen connections between generations while shaping more livable, equitable, and future-ready cities.
CURATORIAL MODULES
HOPE Through Numbers
collaborators
Speakers
Reach
Agenda
25 March 2027 | Nexus - The Hub, Expo City Dubai
08:30 | Registration of Participants
09:00 | Opening Ceremony
09:25 | Opening remarks - HOPE 2027 - “The Intergenerational City”
09:30 | Keynote Speaker
10:20 | Opening of the Exhibition
10:30 | Cocktail & Networking
11:00 | Awards Ceremony
11:15 | Module 1 - Intergenerational Neighbourhoods
Exploring how housing, public spaces, and community infrastructure can foster interaction, care, and social cohesion across generations.
12:00 | Learning Cities
Exploring how education, innovation, and lifelong learning can encourage knowledge exchange, adaptability, and connection across generations.
12:40 | Lunch and Networking
13:30 | Curated Presentations
13:40 | Curated Presentations
14:30 | Module 3 - The Long View
Exploring how architecture, planning, governance, and investment can create lasting urban legacies for communities and future generations.
15:10 | Module 4 - Learning from Practice
Exploring lessons from practitioners and built projects, revealing how experience, implementation, and real-world challenges can inform more responsive cities for future generations.
15:50 | HOPE 2027
Concluding Remarks
Previous HOPE Speakers & Contributors
2027 Speakers — Announcing Soon
Winy Maas
Joleza Koka
H.E. Ahmed Al Humaidi
Dr. Hanan Aljabri
Prof. Dr. Gustavo de Siqueira
Dr. Amna Al-Saadi
Dr. Aliya Abdul Sattar Yaqoob Al-Hashim
Dr. Mahmood Al-Wahaibi
Dr. Haitham Al Abri
Eng. Elham Al-Hadhrami
Dr. Jianxiang Huang
Dr. Ruth M. Mabry
Adam Nadolny
Dr. Wafa Alghatam
José Ramón Sierra
Benedetta Mea
Thomas Busse
Jason Carlow
Manuela Gatto
Konstandin Jano
THE SYMPOSIUM
A full-day programme of keynote speeches, panel discussions, presentations, and interdisciplinary dialogue exploring how design and public policy can shape more inclusive cities for all generations.
B2B & NETWORKING MEETINGS
Curated meetings connecting architects, developers, policymakers, technology companies, investors, universities, and public institutions to foster strategic partnerships and future collaborations.
HOPE AWARDS
Recognition of outstanding contributions in architecture, urban design, sustainability, innovation, research, and leadership that advance healthier, more inclusive, and resilient cities across the MENA region and beyond.
DIGITAL TALKS
All keynote lectures and panel discussions will be professionally recorded and published through HOPE's digital platforms, creating an open knowledge resource that extends the symposium's impact and reaches a wider international audience.
INNOVATION SHOWCASE
A curated exhibition showcasing projects, ideas, and installations related to the theme “Legacy,” creating dialogue between architecture, culture, technology, and society.
HOPE 2027
Housing People Environment
2023 — HOPE Begins
National Museum of Oman, Muscat HOPE was launched as a platform connecting research, policy and practice around people-centred urban development. Its first edition established a regional dialogue on healthier, more inclusive and sustainable cities.
2024 — Research into Implementation
GUtech Museum, Muscat HOPE shifted its focus from research towards implementation, drawing on the Healthy Cities programme and PABE project across Nizwa, Barka and Muscat. The edition explored how evidence-based urban design can translate into healthier neighbourhoods and public policy.
2026 — GROWTH
Al Mirani Fort, Muscat Under the patronage of Muscat Municipality, HOPE explored GROWTH through housing, health, economic development and urban governance. The symposium brought together international and Omani expertise to examine how cities can grow responsibly, inclusively and sustainably.
FABER 2025 — Inclusive Smart Cities
National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Tirana, Albania The fourth edition of FABER explored Inclusive Smart Cities, bringing together international architects, urban planners, policymakers and researchers around technology, equity and the future of urban life. Across the themes of the Gendered City, the Smart City Paradox and Shaping Future Cities, the forum connected global expertise with the challenges and opportunities facing contemporary cities.
MMCDD 2025 — Muscat Municipality Design Competition
Muscat, Sultanate of Oman An international architectural competition initiated by Muscat Municipality to envision a new civic landmark and set new benchmarks for the city’s future development. The process brought together five international architecture practices, an international jury and a public exhibition of finalist proposals, connecting contemporary design ambition with Omani identity and context.
Where Albania Walks — Designing Cities for People
Tirana, Albania Where Albania Walks explored pedestrianisation strategies for healthier and more inclusive neighbourhoods through co-design, citizen participation and active mobility. Developed through collaboration between communities, experts, civil society and public authorities, the project transformed local knowledge into practical strategies for improving streets and public space.
