Preparations are well advanced for the INTA 25 Congress - an international conference on urban development to be held in Dubai this year. The conference will explore the ways New Technologies of Information and Communication (NTIC) can be used to boost the economic functioning of cities and urban public services.

It will be held at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry from October 20 to 23 and is being organised by Dubai Municipality and the International Network for Urban Development (INTA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the Arab Urban Development Institute.

Nearly 500 delegates from the U.S., Europe, Asia and Arab countries are expected to attend. Abdullah Al Ghaith, Second Assistant to the Director-General of Dubai Municipality and chairman of the conference's steering committee, said 80 research papers have been received and will be evaluated by the technical committee prior to being presented at the conference.

"Dubai is proud to host such an important international conference on urban development," Al Ghaith said. "The recent history of Dubai, and the United Arab Emirates in general, illustrates the profound and rapid changes introduced by NTIC in local development and management."

The Netherlands-based INTA is a world forum and network encouraging the exchange of information, experience and best practices on urban development and renewal worldwide.