The Ministry of Housing is organizing the Fourth Arab Housing Conference under the theme “Activating Public-Private Partnerships to Develop the Housing Sector,” to be held from 21–23 Rabi“ al-Awwal 1438 AH, corresponding to December 20–22 December 2016 in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, ”may God protect him," with broad Arab and regional participation.
Discussion on Housing and Reconstruction
The conference will address several themes related to housing and reconstruction, in addition to scientific sessions on the most effective solutions to the Arab housing crisis… Minister of Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail noted the generous royal patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud—may God protect him—for the conference, noting that it reflects the wise leadership’s continued interest in the housing sector, and its ongoing commitment to developing and upgrading it to meet all aspirations, in addition to the focus on promoting the exchange of expertise and experiences among Arab countries in various fields, to contribute to their progress and development.
Conference Themes
The Minister of Housing noted that the conference includes a range of themes related to the housing and reconstruction sector across Arab countries, and is organized under the auspices of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction of the League of Arab States. He noted that it will examine the most significant developments in this sector and how to capitalize on them, It also includes a number of scientific sessions discussing various topics related to housing and its affairs, with the participation of experts in housing, urban development, real estate development, investment, and financing representing government and private institutions from several countries, alongside an accompanying exhibition featuring a group of local and international entities from the public and private sectors involved in housing, construction, and real estate development.
Organization of the Arab Housing Sector
Al-Hogail said in a press statement: ” The Fourth Arab Housing Conference, organized by the Ministry of Housing in partnership with the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Reconstruction of the League of Arab States, aims to achieve a set of positive outcomes that will serve and regulate the housing sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Arab countries, including presenting perspectives on the role of government institutions and agencies in public-private partnerships, highlighting the private sector’s role in achieving housing policy objectives, and clarifying the importance of such partnerships as a strategic option in housing projects, in addition to defining the models of effective partnership implementation, their fundamentals, and the regulatory, legal, and financial relationships between them, while reviewing some successful practical experiences in this regard."
Strategic Housing Objectives
He noted that the choice of the conference’s theme stems from the Ministry’s and the League of Arab States" recognition of the private sector’s importance and their affirmation that it is a partner in national development, noting that the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Housing, which align with the National Transformation Program 2020 and Saudi Vision 2030, emphasize the importance of an effective partnership with the private sector and efforts to improve its performance, stimulate the real estate supply, and increase productivity to provide housing products with diverse options, high quality, and affordable prices.
The Fourth Arab Housing Conference will discuss five main themes, featuring a group of local and international speakers comprising specialists and stakeholders, The conference’s first theme examines the role of decision-makers and stakeholders in realizing national visions through public-private partnerships, as well as the role of government institutions, agencies, and private-sector entities in achieving housing policy objectives. In the second theme, participants will discuss the dimensions of public-private partnerships and methods for implementing them.
Public-Private Partnerships
This track will examine public-private partnerships in urban development through the revitalization of city centers, informal settlements, and other areas. The fourth track highlights the fundamentals of partnerships in implementing housing plans, their principles and tools, its main advantages and disadvantages, the challenges it faces, and how to overcome them to achieve an effective relationship. Meanwhile, the fifth track presents a range of successful public-private housing partnership experiences in the areas of planning and implementation.
