Kuwait City : At the 23rd GCC Ministers of Housing Meeting held in Kuwait, Oman took center stage by presenting significant investment prospects in its ambitious future city developments, aligning with the region’s drive toward smart, sustainable urbanization.
The high-level forum, which gathered key housing officials from across the Gulf, opened with remarks from GCC Secretary-General H.E. Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, who emphasized the vital role of housing in regional social development. He praised GCC nations for embracing digital innovation and advancing smart city infrastructure to improve quality of life.
A major outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of the Gulf Housing Action Plan 2024–2030, aimed at strengthening housing policy frameworks across member states. Additionally, three reference guides were approved to elevate regional construction and housing standards:
- Value Engineering Guide
- Sustainable Construction Guide
- Housing Case Evaluation Guide
These documents are aligned with international best practices in environmental stewardship and urban planning.
Another key milestone was the ratification of the Unified Rules for Owners of Jointly Owned Properties in the GCC, a landmark regulatory framework that promotes consistent real estate governance and enhances transparency in residential developments across member states.
The meeting also paved the way for broader international cooperation in housing by authorizing the GCC General Secretariat to establish memoranda of understanding with regional and global housing organizations, thereby strengthening cross-border knowledge-sharing and innovation.
Recognizing excellence in housing development, the session concluded with the announcement of winners for the sixth cycle of the GCC Housing Award (2024–2025). The awards celebrated notable contributions from both private and nonprofit sectors in advancing housing solutions.
Representing the Sultanate of Oman, H.E. Dr. Khalfan bin Saeed Al-Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, held strategic discussions with regional investors on the sidelines of the event. He presented Oman’s vision for future cities, emphasizing a wide range of freehold-eligible investment opportunities designed to attract Gulf and international investors.
Dr. Al-Shuaili specifically invited Kuwaiti citizens and investors to explore Oman’s next-generation urban projects, noting that these initiatives align with Oman’s national vision for sustainable development and contribute to broader Gulf economic integration.
In a trilateral meeting, Dr. Al-Shuaili engaged with Kuwaiti Minister H.E. Abdullatif Al-Mishari and Qatari Minister H.E. Buthaina Al-Jabr Al-Nuaimi to explore enhanced Gulf collaboration in urban planning. The dialogue focused on attracting Gulf capital to support futuristic housing developments and building a unified regional approach to urban innovation.
