In this episode of Inclusive Urban Futures, recorded live at the World Urban Forum, we had the pleasure of speaking with Professor Ali A. Alraouf, architect, urban thinker, researcher, and educator, whose work is driven by a profound commitment to social justice, cultural identity, and more inclusive cities. Throughout the conversation, Professor Alraouf reflects on the experiences that shaped his professional journey and inspired his lifelong commitment to creating urban environments where public space belongs to everyone, regardless of income or social status. A powerful message that emerges from the conversation is his call to move beyond the image of cities and focus instead on their lived experience. Rather than asking how a city can become "the next Singapore," he challenges us to ask how it can become a better version of itself—one that responds to its own people, culture, and aspirations. For Professor Alraouf, successful cities are not defined by iconic buildings or impressive skylines, but by the quality of their public spaces, the everyday interactions they enable, and their ability to foster community and belonging. The conversation also explores the opportunities and limitations of emerging technologies. While recognising the value of artificial intelligence, Professor Alraouf reminds us that technology can never replace community. Cities must continue to be shaped by people's needs, experiences, and relationships, creating places that genuinely reflect the lives of those who inhabit them. Speaking candidly about his experience at the World Urban Forum itself, Professor Alraouf also reflects on the gap that can exist between global discussions and urban reality. Discussing inequality, housing, and poverty inside the conference halls, only to step outside and be confronted by neighbourhoods defined by extreme wealth, serves as a powerful reminder that meaningful change requires more than ambitious conversations—it demands action. Throughout the conversation, Professor Alraouf's deep empathy for people living in disadvantaged circumstances is unmistakable. His reflections reveal a genuine concern for growing inequalities and a belief that architecture and urban planning should ultimately serve people before prestige. Thoughtful, compassionate, and quietly provocative, he reminds us that the future of our cities depends not only on better planning, but on our willingness to place dignity, community, and justice at the heart of urban development. Join. Listen. Share. Linkedin Ali A. Alraouf : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-a-alraouf-76516521/ IUF instagram : https://www.instagram.com/inclusive_urban_futures/?hl=en More About Professor Ali A. Alraouf Professor Ali A. Alraouf is an architect, urban designer, planner, researcher, and educator whose work explores the relationship between architecture, cities, culture, and social justice. With decades of international academic and professional experience, he has dedicated his career to understanding how urban environments can become more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the communities they serve. A registered architect and urban planner in Egypt, Bahrain, and Qatar, Professor Alraouf has held teaching and research positions at universities across the Middle East and internationally, including as a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. His academic work spans architectural history and theory, urban design, and design studios, while his research focuses on knowledge-based urban development, post-carbon cities, urban regeneration, cultural identity, creative cities, and the transformation of Gulf cities. Professor Alraouf has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, books, book chapters, and critical essays, and has been invited to present his work at leading universities and international institutions around the world. He has also served as a consultant to organisations including UN-Habitat, UNESCO, ESCWA, and ICOMOS, contributing his expertise to projects that promote sustainable and inclusive urban development. Today, Professor Alraouf is based in the United States, where he is the Founder and first Head of the Urban Lab and Design Studio at the Center for Middle East Architecture and Urbanism. Through his research, teaching, and professional practice, he continues to advocate for cities that celebrate local identity, strengthen communities, and place people, rather than prestige, at the centre of urban development.
