The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing, in the October Urbanism Conference and the First Gulf Housing Conference, hosted by the Omani capital Muscat under the slogan “Resilience of the Urban Economy” from October 29–31, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman. The conference will highlight urban development models in the Sultanate of Oman

Review of successful experiences

During the conference, the Kingdom will present a number of successful experiences across various urban sectors, most notably: (urban renewal and its impact on economic activities in the centers of old cities, the role of developmental and cooperative housing associations in providing housing for citizens, developmental housing, and the National Urban Observatory’s experience in enabling sustainable urban development and strengthening local urban monitoring), in addition to urban planning and activating the role of partnerships with the private sector in housing projects.

Panel Discussions and High Participation

The conference, which features more than 22 panel discussions with the participation of approximately 35 universities and over 2,000 experts and specialists, aims to promote a culture of sustainable urban planning, and flexible planning to build an urban economy that adapts seamlessly to life’s changes and meets all the needs of individuals and communities. The conference sessions will address four main themes: (Urban Planning, Housing, the Future of School Buildings, and Urban Resilience).

It is worth noting that the conference coincides with the United Nations “October of Urbanism” events, which include World Habitat Day, World Cities Day, and World Architecture Day under the theme “Better City, Better Life,” with the aim of reviewing the most prominent recent and contemporary research and studies in the urban planning sectors.