In May 2026, Baku will host the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13), dedicated to the theme of adequate, safe, and sustainable housing. Hosting an event of this scale reflects Azerbaijan’s growing role in the global urban agenda and its ambition to position itself as a platform for both discussion and demonstration of contemporary urban development approaches.
Preparations for the forum are underway at the Baku Olympic Stadium, where temporary infrastructure is being developed to accommodate participants and events. However, the significance of WUF13 extends beyond logistics. For Baku, it represents an opportunity to institutionalize the experience accumulated over recent decades and present it to the international expert community as part of a broader narrative of state-led urban transformation.
Modern urban theory increasingly views large cities as dynamic systems that cannot remain static. The challenge is not preservation in isolation, but the ability to balance historical continuity with the demands of modern infrastructure, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Within this framework, Azerbaijan’s approach offers a case of interest due to its combination of modernization, redevelopment, and large-scale planning interventions.
In Baku itself, several projects illustrate this trajectory. The redevelopment of the waterfront, the transformation of former industrial zones, and the expansion of public spaces and transport infrastructure reflect a shift toward more integrated urban planning. These processes signal a move away from fragmented development toward a more coordinated model of managing urban growth.
A distinct dimension of Azerbaijan’s urban policy is visible in the redevelopment of the formerly occupied territories, where entire cities and districts are being rebuilt from the ground up. In locations such as Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan, urban planning is being implemented through “greenfield” models, incorporating updated infrastructure, industrial zones, and elements of “smart city” and “smart village” concepts. These projects represent not reconstruction in the traditional sense, but the creation of new urban systems designed for long-term functionality.
At the same time, historically significant cities such as Shusha present a different set of challenges. Here, urban policy must reconcile heritage restoration with modernization requirements, including infrastructure renewal and the removal of incompatible Soviet-era constructions. In other urban centers, such as Khankendi, priorities include the regularization of unplanned development and the establishment of a structured framework for future growth.
Taken together, these elements form a multi-layered urban development model that combines modernization of existing cities, construction of new urban environments, and restoration of historical centers. In this context, WUF13 serves not only as a forum for dialogue, but also as an instrument of international positioning, allowing Azerbaijan to integrate its experience into the broader global discourse on the future of cities.
