In a great milestone towards a risk-informed and sustainable urban development, Nablus, a bustling city with rich history and vibrant culture nestled in the heart of the West Bank, Palestine, has officially joined Tomorrow’s Cities.

The signing agreement ceremony between Dr. Hussam Al-Shakshir, Nablues Deputy Mayor in and Professor John McCloskey Tomorrow’s Cities Co-Director, was hosted by An-Najah National University and attended by more than 150 people, including officials from different local governmental entities such as His Excellency Eng. Majdi Al-Saleh, Minister of Local Government, Dr. Abdel-Nasser Zaid, President of An-Najah National University and Mr. Mohammed Mustafa, Mayor of Sarra. Dr. Max Hope also attended in representation of Tomorrow’s Cities Hub.

Eng. Majdi Al-Saleh, His Excellency the Minister of Local Government.

“We fully support Tomorrow’s Cities Hub, and we recognize its importance in achieving sustainable development and mitigating future risks. We consider the outcomes of this initiative of great importance, and we are confident that it will add planning tools and experiences aligned with the best global practices.”

Eng. Majdi Al-Saleh, His Excellency the Minister of Local Government

Prof. Jalal Dabbeek, Local Lead of Nablus Team and Director of Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center.

“The institutional cooperation and community participation are the foundations for the success of Tomorrow’s Cities, which will help our future generations avoid the catastrophic impacts of natural disasters through the development of risk-sensitive and people-centered urban planning strategies, especially in a city facing unique challenges such as complex topography and multi-hazard risk.“

Prof. Jalal Dabbeek, Local Lead of Nablus Team and Director of Urban Planning and Disaster Risk Reduction Center.

Prof. John McCloskey, Tomorrow’s Cities Co-director.

“Through our genuine collaboration, we can help planning a better future for the Palestinian people. We will work with various stakeholders, decision-makers, and community groups to develop several scenarios for the future expansion of Nablus city, through establishing an effective decision-support environment that informs the urban planning process.”

Prof. John McCloskey, Co-director of Tomorrow’s Cities Project.

At the end of the event, the results of the Nablus Skyline Design Award; a competition for students, young architects and urban planners to design a skyline showing the symbolic landmarks of Nablus city. The event was covered at national and regional levels by An-Najah National University TV.

Nablus Skyline.