Qatar Chairs 22nd Meeting of GCC Ministers of Housing Affairs

GCC Ministers of Housing Affairs

The State of Qatar on Thursday chaired the 22nd meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers concerned with housing affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) , which was held during the closing day of the Second Gulf Housing Week.

During her presidency of the meeting, HE the Minister of Social Development and Family, Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad affirmed the State of Qatars keenness to continue efforts to complete the urban renaissance in accordance with the national strategies and the State's vision, and its commitment to supporting joint efforts concerned with housing affairs in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressing her hope that the meeting will come out with decisions and recommendations that enhance this joint cooperation.

HE Al Misnad praised the great efforts made by the housing sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) to implement the joint Gulf housing action plan for the years (2024-2030), which was approved by the Ministerial Council in its preparatory session No. (158) for the 44th session of the Supreme Council in Doha last December.

HE the Minister explained that one of the tasks as of this meeting is to address the executive mechanisms for achieving it within the framework of joint cooperation among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

She explained that Qatar, in its capacity as chair of the technical committee concerned with housing affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) , hosted on the 20th of this month the 44th meeting of the technical committee as part of the preparatory work for this ministerial meeting, represented by the Housing Department of the Ministry of Social Development and Family. HE the Minister noted that the presence of all representatives of the countries Members, the Municipalities and Housing Administration of the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council, and representatives of member states and the Municipalities and Housing Administration of the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council, reflects the great interest that Gulf housing work receives, commensurate with the aspirations of the Arab Gulf states and their peoples for urban renaissance and comprehensive development.

She pointed out that the topics on the agenda of this high-level meeting and the decisions it requires regarding the recommendations presented regarding them within the efforts to implement the joint Gulf housing action plan for the years (2024-2030) bear the prospects of the GCC countries for comprehensive renaissance in accordance with the latest achievements of technology and knowledge in the urban field. She said that this meeting will address recommendations on unified general rules for real estate owners, the real estate stimulus guide in the GCC countries, and the guide for assessing the flexibility of cities in the field of housing in the GCC countries, in addition to the economic frameworks for partnership with private institutions to encourage investment in the real estate sector in the GCC countries.

For his part, Khalid bin Ali bin Salem Al Sunaidi, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), appreciated the efforts of the State of Qatar for the support and support it provides to the process of joint Gulf action, in order to achieve the aspirations of the citizens of the Council countries towards greater cooperation and integration. He expressed his wishes for continued security, safety and prosperity for the State of Qatar, praising the great efforts made by Their Excellencies the Ministers concerned with housing affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, to raise the level of cooperation, coordination and integration in the housing field in the GCC countries, appreciating the role of the members of the Committee of Senior Housing Officials for their distinguished efforts in Preparation and preparation for this meeting.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs said, "The distinguished role played by the Sultanate of Oman during its presidency of the last session of the year 2023 deserves appreciation," extending his congratulations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for assuming the presidency of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction for the years 2024-2025.

During the meeting, Their Excellencies and Excellencies discussed a number of topics related to the field of housing, most notably the joint Gulf housing action plan for the years 2024-2030, the "unified general rules for real estate owners in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries," and the issue of housing information rules.

It was agreed on a mechanism to benefit from specialized conferences and workshops in the field of housing, in addition to coordinating and preparing for regional and international meetings, and highlighting the efforts of member states in regional and international forums through effective participation in the events, and what was implemented during the Second Gulf Housing Week, and what was activated. Initiatives related to the exchange of experiences, expertise and information since its adoption in the year 2022, in addition to a number of topics that serve joint housing work between the GCC countries.

The meeting resulted in the approval of a guide for real estate incentives in the GCC countries to link landowners with developers and financing agencies, a guide for evaluating the flexibility of cities in the field of housing in the GCC countries, and an economic framework for partnership with private institutions to encourage investment in the real estate sector in the GCC countries, and congratulations on the success of the work of the Gulf Housing Week. The second and the activities it included, generously hosted by the State of Qatar, held during the period May 13-16, 2024.

During the meeting, the date was set for the third edition of the Gulf Housing Week in the State of Kuwait during the year 2025 , in addition to the launch of the sixth session of the Gulf Cooperation Council Award for Housing Work for the years 2024-2025 , under the title "(Digital/Smart) Applications and Technologies in Housing Projects and Programs." And raising the total financial value of the three winners of the Cooperation Council (GCC) Award in the field of housing.

(QNA)