KUWAIT: The high-level gathering focused on shaping the future of housing across the Gulf, with Oman showcasing major investment opportunities in its emerging city projects.

At the official opening of the session, GCC Secretary-General H.E. Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Budaiwi highlighted the strategic importance of the housing sector to the region’s social development. Stressing the leaders’ commitment to enhancing quality of life, he applauded the strides made by GCC states in adopting digital innovations and building smart cities.

A central highlight of the session was the endorsement of the Gulf Housing Action Plan 2024–2030, alongside the approval of key reference guides designed to uplift construction and housing standards across the region. These include the Value Engineering Guide, Sustainable Construction Guide, and Housing Case Evaluation Guide, all aligned with global environmental and urban planning trends.

The meeting also saw the ratification of the Unified Rules for Owners of Jointly Owned Properties in the GCC, a unified regulatory document aimed at standardizing real estate governance and boosting transparency in residential complexes.

Further, it was agreed to expand the GCC’s international partnerships in housing by allowing the General Secretariat to sign memoranda of understanding with regional and global housing organizations.

Recognizing innovation and impact, the event also announced the winners of the sixth cycle of the GCC Housing Award (2024–2025), honoring contributions from private sector and nonprofit players.

Representing the Sultanate, H.E. Dr. Khalfan bin Saeed Al-Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, engaged in strategic investor discussions on the sidelines of the conference. He outlined Oman’s forward-looking urban vision, particularly the diverse investment opportunities in upcoming freehold-eligible future city projects.

Dr. Al-Shuaili invited Kuwaiti citizens and investors to explore Oman’s offerings, noting that this initiative supports broader Gulf integration and aligns with the vision of Oman’s leadership for a sustainable, investor-friendly urban future.

In a trilateral dialogue, Dr. Al-Shuaili also met with Kuwaiti Minister H.E. Abdullatif Al-Mishari and Qatari Minister H.E. Buthaina Al-Jabr Al-Nuaimi, exploring avenues for deeper Gulf collaboration in urban development and mechanisms to attract Gulf capital for futuristic housing ventures.

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