Transitioning to industry 5.0: Guidelines for resilient and agile cities from Egypt’s experience

Cities are transforming from Industry 4.0, defined by automation and advanced technologies, to Industry 5.0, which emphasises human–machine collaboration and a human-centric approach. While Industry 4.0 prioritises technological efficiency, it often overlooks the human scale, whereas Industry 5.0 fosters inclusivity, resilience and adaptability, making it essential for agile urban development. This study aims to provide guidelines for agile cities, using a qualitative approach utilising an online survey of diverse stakeholders (i.e., urban planners, policymakers, and citizens) with a review of literature and reports. Drawing on Egypt’s experience transitioning to Industry 4.0, our findings offer insights and directions relevant to the shift toward Industry 5.0. The results underscore the role of innovation and excellence in education, driven by integrated efforts in governance, curriculum design, professional development, inclusivity, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. This study contributes by investigating stakeholders’ insights from Egyptian experiences to inform the development of agile cities.