Arab regional housing and urban development initiatives

In observance of World and Arab Housing Day, various regional officials highlighted urban development and housing strategies.

In Oman, Egypt’s Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Randa Al-Menshawy, met with the Mayor of Muscat to discuss bilateral cooperation in urban planning, city management, and infrastructure. Discussions included Egypt’s expertise in developing new cities, upgrading urban areas, and managing unplanned settlements.

In Yemen, the Minister of Public Works and Roads, Hussein Awad Al-Aqrabbi, led a workshop in Aden focused on ‘Community Resilience: Building Communities Capable of Adapting.’ The event addressed the necessity of linking housing to essential infrastructure and the urgent need for reconstruction following previous damage to facilities.

In Jordan, Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Saman identified the housing sector as a pillar of the national economic modernization vision. He noted that Jordan is the first Arab country to issue a second urban report to monitor its new urban plan, aiming to provide serviced land and modern planning tools through international cooperation.