Executive Office of Arab Housing Ministers Discusses Supporting Reconstruction and Urban Development with Kuwait's Participation

Cairo, October 21 (KUNA) -- The Executive Office of the Arab Ministers of Housing, Urban Planning, and Infrastructure held its 91st session today, Wednesday, to discuss ways to support reconstruction efforts in several Arab countries and to promote sustainable housing and urban development, with the participation of the State of Kuwait.

In his opening address, Saudi Deputy Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Abdulrahman Al-Tuwaila, called for strengthening Arab cooperation and exchanging expertise and experiences in the housing sector, contributing to enabling Arab citizens to access adequate housing and achieve stability, security, and peace of mind. He stated that the housing sector receives significant attention from Arab countries as part of their development and modernization plans, aiming to improve housing services and optimize the use of available resources.

He emphasized that the Arab citizen is the focal point of the development process, and providing the foundations for his stability enhances his capacity to contribute and participate in developing his homeland. He clarified that the meeting discusses the latest developments, current realities, challenges, and future prospects of the housing sector in Arab countries, alongside exploring ways to benefit from successful experiences and expertise in this field.

Al-Tuwaila reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting joint Arab efforts in the housing sector through the exchange of expertise and the development of initiatives that enable citizens to obtain adequate housing. In conclusion, he expressed appreciation for the efforts of the technical, scientific, and advisory committees during their meetings held in recent days, commending the technical secretariat of the Council for its preparations and success in facilitating the meeting’s work.

For his part, Dr. Mahmoud Fathallah, Director of the Housing and Water Resources Department at the Arab League, stated that the Executive Office discussed ways to provide technical support to several Arab countries in the fields of housing, urban planning, and reconstruction. He explained that the files under discussion include supporting the State of Palestine in reconstruction and achieving sustainable housing for Palestinian citizens; Lebanon in reconstruction; Sudan in the housing and urban planning sector, including training cadres; Yemen in reconstruction; and Syria in improving the urban reality.

He added that these files are part of a broader set of topics aimed at addressing damages inflicted on the housing sector and urban infrastructure in several Arab countries. The meeting reviewed studies and experiences related to the rehabilitation of cities affected by conflicts and natural disasters, as well as Arab lands under Israeli occupation. It also discussed the Arab Program to Enhance City Resilience in Mitigating Multi-Hazard Risks, the follow-up on the implementation of the Global Alliance for Building and Construction, and the application of Arab building codes.

Furthermore, the meeting reviewed Arab countries’ experiences in social housing and addressing informal settlements, exchanged information on pioneering projects in the housing and urban development sectors, and discussed Arab cooperation with regional blocs, foreign countries, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

The meeting also addressed the Arab Strategy for Sustainable Housing and Urban Development in light of the New Urban Agenda and the global Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. He noted that the agenda included several other topics, including the Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Urban Development, the Award of the Arab Ministers of Housing, Urban Planning, and Infrastructure Council, the Arab Housing Conference, and the celebration of Arab Housing Day.

He added that the Executive Office discussed proposed agenda items for the 43rd session of the Arab Ministers of Housing and Urban Affairs Council, scheduled to be held next December, as well as the Council’s work program for 2026 and 2027, alongside determining the dates and venues for future meetings. The Advisory Technical and Scientific Committee of the Arab Ministers of Housing and Urban Affairs Council held its 72nd meeting from October 18 to 20 at the headquarters of the Arab League, in preparation for the 91st session of the Executive Office. Kuwait was represented at the meeting by its Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi. The Executive Office comprises, in addition to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and Jordan. (End) M.M. / T.M.A.