FIABCI at the UN: Advancing the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda

Jul 20, 2026 Latest News

FIABCI, The International Real Estate Federation, participated in the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from July 16 to 17.

The FIABCI delegation brought together key global leaders, including World President Lily Chang, Secretary General Narek Arakelyan, Past World President Susan Greenfield, Abdullah Al Harbi, President of the Africa & Near East Regional Committee, and Board Member Eugenia Foxworth. Together, they represented the voice of the global real estate profession and the broader built environment in this important international dialogue.

Throughout the two-day program, plenary sessions and multi-stakeholder discussions underscored the urgent need to accelerate progress toward sustainable urbanization, adequate housing, and resilient cities. A strong emphasis was placed on enhanced cooperation among governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and the private sector to address the growing challenges faced by urban areas worldwide.

In her intervention, FIABCI World President Lily Chang highlighted the importance of collaboration and trust in shaping the cities of tomorrow: “Future-ready cities cannot be built without strong governance, reliable data, innovation, and meaningful cooperation between the public and private sectors.”

She further emphasized that “urban transformation is not only a matter of technology—it is a matter of trust, capacity, and implementation,” calling for transparent governance, accountable decision-making, and the effective use of data and innovation to drive real, measurable impact.

In addition to participating in the official agenda, FIABCI held a series of strategic bilateral meetings with partners and high-level political representatives. These exchanges provided valuable opportunities to strengthen collaboration, align on shared priorities, and explore future joint initiatives that support the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

FIABCI reaffirms its commitment to contributing its global expertise, extensive professional network, and practical industry perspective to advancing sustainable urban development and housing solutions worldwide.

FIABCI’s official intervention at the United Nations is available here: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15hanvxwj