By 2050, its cities will be home to 3.4 billion people, up from 2.2 billion today – the equivalent of adding around two Delhi-sized cities every year. Yet deep urban inequality is growing in the shadows of these cityscapes, leaving cities socially divided, politically fragile and increasingly exposed to unsafe and illegal activity. The situation in the Middle East, for example, is affecting many urban communities through rising energy and food prices, disrupted supply chains, remittances and jobs. By placing the needs and experiences of vulnerable communities at the centre of urban planning, such initiatives are already delivering results. By putting the needs of the vulnerable at the center of urban planning, cities can be defined not just by their stunning skylines but by the quality of life they deliver.