The main functions of urban observatories are setting up as well as analyzing the produced indicators, after that they follow up on the progress of its program according to the nature of the local community to be able to make plans, train local staff and organize courses and meetings with associates. Moreover, they will be able to join the outcome of the local observatory with both the regional and the National one. Finally, they will prepare reports and periodicals. Yet the more detailed functions are:

       - Define and choose the suitable basic and local urban indicators to measure the performance and the progress in the urban section.
       - Establish, develop and improve a database of urban indicators in different areas of urban development and transfer the information, data and statistics into quantitative indicators that provide an excellent tool for comparison according to time or with other cities.
       - Supplying decision makers with indicators together with its indications aids them in making the right decisions regarding comprehensive developmental plans and their priorities.
       - Propose a mechanism to measure the performance of specialized departments that offer services in cities and evaluate developmental plans.
       - Detect and measure the capability of both the local and National developmental policies via urban indicators developed to achieve this aim.
       - Connecting the local urban observatories with both the regional and the National ones. Also connect the National urban observatories with the Global ones. Cooperating with similar urban observatories and exchange experiences to improve the capability of producing urban indicators.
       - Support research and training resources and that is by organizing training courses, seminars, conferences and periodical consultation meetings with local and Arab developmental associates.
       - Preparing researches, publications and special reports about different urban fields of development and measure the level of performance.
       - Train local staff and increase the capability of the individuals working in the observatory, build the ability to generate information, analyze it, publish it regularly and deduce indicators from it.
       - Define and choose the suitable basic and local urban indicators to measure the performance and the progress in the urban section.
       - Establish, develop and improve a database of urban indicators in different areas of urban development and transfer the information, data and statistics into quantitative indicators that provide an excellent tool for comparison according to time or with other cities.
       - Supplying decision makers with indicators together with its indications aids them in making the right decisions regarding comprehensive developmental plans and their priorities.
       - Propose a mechanism to measure the performance of specialized departments that offer services in cities and evaluate developmental plans.
       - Detect and measure the capability of both the local and National developmental policies via urban indicators developed to achieve this aim.
       - Connecting the local urban observatories with both the regional and the National ones. Also connect the National urban observatories with the Global ones. Cooperating with similar urban observatories and exchange experiences to improve the capability of producing urban indicators.
       - Support research and training resources and that is by organizing training courses, seminars, conferences and periodical consultation meetings with local and Arab developmental associates.
       -Preparing researches, publications and special reports about different urban fields of development and measure the level of performance.
       -Train local staff and increase the capability of the individuals working in the observatory, build the ability to generate information, analyze it, publish it regularly and deduce indicators from it.

      The Objectives of an urban observatory
       Problems that face urban observatories