Minister of Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Haqeel summarized the obstacles facing the provision of adequate housing at the right price in three main axes: land with its location and services, development and the relationship of developers and individual construction contractors, building regulations and availability of materials, and financing, this came during the seminar “Housing in the Kingdom: Challenges and Solutions” organized by the Institute of Public Administration, King Salman Conference Center at the Institute's headquarters in Riyadh, with the aim of diagnosing the reality of housing in the Kingdom and developing solutions to address the obstacles.

Four themes represent challenges for the sector

Al-Haqeel explained that housing issues are related to four main elements that represent challenges for the sector that meet in the larger perspective of the Kingdom's challenges in this sector; firstly, the limited number of housing units for all segments of society, then the efficiency of savings and financing programs in the Kingdom and the resulting weak purchasing power, thirdly, the efficiency of the real estate sector, including legislation, executive authorities, investment in real estate development and licensing centers that affected investment in the sector and contributed to its development, and lastly the importance of the independence of the investment and real estate sector from the state quickly and not linked to the state budget directly.

Real estate investment and real estate sector is independent of the state.

120 sectors linked to housing

The Minister of Housing emphasized the state's interest in the sector and that it comes in the priorities of short and long plans and strategies, and that the first speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - and pointed out that the housing sector and its development is linked to more than 120 other sectors in the country as part of a real development process.

He added that housing is one of the most important elements of the first speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him. <He added: We aspire to a lot from this symposium through its two axes, and we look forward to the recommendations issued by it and hope to benefit greatly from the studies, scientific papers and researchers, and we expect it to provide more solutions to housing issues."

He also praised the efforts of the Institute of Public Administration in organizing the symposium, considering it an important pioneering edifice in the Kingdom that contributed to training competencies and held many seminars and events that contributed to raising the efficiency of government work.

Ministry of Housing Tasks

<For his part, the Director General of the Institute of Public Administration, Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Shuaibi, stressed in his speech that one of the tasks for which the Ministry was established is to develop the housing sector and formulate its visions: Developing the housing sector, formulating its future visions, and increasing the percentage of citizens' ownership of housing. Housing issues have received special attention from our wise government under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Deputy Crown Prince - may Allah protect them - and the state - may Allah support it - has sought seriously to solve the housing crisis in the Kingdom, He pointed out that the housing sector is one of the most important contemporary social and economic sectors that have received increasing attention in the Kingdom, through successive development plans in general, and the Tenth Development Plan in particular.

Appreciated efforts of the Ministry

Dr. Al-Shuaibi stressed that one of the most important fruits of the modern trends of the state, which appeared early, is the establishment of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, which embodies the great determination to address national developmental issues, including housing as a developmental challenge, and embodies the immediate translation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - and his humanitarian sense and tireless efforts to make the citizens of the Kingdom enjoy development in our beloved country."

<He mentioned that the strategies, efforts and projects of the Ministry of Housing are in line with the developmental and civilizational trends aimed at facing such challenges; to facilitate citizens' access to housing, increase the rate of ownership, encourage private sector participation in supporting various housing activities and programs, and increase the supply of housing. <The Director General of the Institute of Public Administration said: The Ministry of Housing has adopted strategies for partnerships with other countries that have successful and distinguished experiences in this regard, as well as attracting real estate developers in order to provide the highest level of quality and available capabilities.

The Director General of the Institute of Public Administration said that the Ministry has spared no effort in this regard, and the vision of the Ministry and the Minister of Housing has been comprehensive and not limited to the internal level.