At the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, housing debates from the Middle East and North Africa moved beyond construction targets and financing figures, focusing instead on resilience, dignity, and long-term social stability. Officials and philanthropic leaders from Saudi Arabia, Palestine, and Morocco outlined how the region is increasingly linking housing policy with employment, climate adaptation, and urban inclusion — while confronting the realities of conflict and reconstruction.
Among the strongest messages came from Lamia bint Majid Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, who argued that housing solutions cannot be replicated from one country to another. Strategies must be built around data and local realities rather than one-size-fits-all approaches, she said. "We don't look at it as a problem... it is about understanding communities and being creative with solutions." She pointed to projects in Africa where climate-resistant homes were built using natural materials while simultaneously training local masons — creating jobs alongside housing. According to Alwaleed Philanthropies, more than 1.2 million housing units have been supported globally through models adapted to local conditions.
Al Saud also described how Saudi initiatives increasingly connect housing assistance with economic empowerment, particularly for women. In partnership with Saudi authorities, the organisation provides housing units, vehicles, and employment training, linking beneficiaries to ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Careem to generate additional income. Her intervention reflected a broader shift emerging across MENA discussions at WUF13: housing is no longer viewed solely as infrastructure, but as part of a wider economic and social ecosystem.
Reconstruction and Resilience in Palestine and Morocco
Reconstruction dominated the intervention of Sami Hijawi, Minister of Local Government of Palestine, who used the forum to draw attention to the humanitarian and urban destruction caused by the war in Gaza. Palestinian authorities are relying heavily on international cooperation, development banks, and public-private partnerships to prepare for future rebuilding efforts despite severe financial pressures. "The Palestinian people decided to stay on their land," he said, calling for stronger global support for rebuilding housing and urban infrastructure. Hijawi stressed that unemployment has risen sharply as a result of the war and highlighted ongoing talks with international institutions including the World Bank to expand financial support programmes. For Palestinian officials, WUF13 served not only as an urban development forum but also as a diplomatic platform to mobilise international backing for reconstruction and long-term housing recovery.
Morocco's Secretary of State for Housing, Adib Benbrahim, presented his country's housing strategy as a regional model of state-led urban transformation underpinned by public-private investment. Morocco has made housing a central pillar of social policy under King Mohammed VI, with programmes targeting slum eradication, middle-class housing, and urban renewal. According to Moroccan authorities, more than 720,000 housing units have been developed through public-private partnerships, while over 325,000 people have benefited from slum resettlement programmes since 2004. The country is also moving towards a new subsidy model launched in 2024, shifting direct financial support from developers to citizens — giving families greater freedom in choosing where to live and encouraging social diversity. Alongside housing construction, Morocco is investing in schools, healthcare facilities, and urban infrastructure in underprivileged neighbourhoods as part of wider urban regeneration efforts.
These discussions at WUF13 resonate with broader global debates on housing, as highlighted by UN Chief Warns No Nation Immune from Housing Crisis at Baku Forum. The MENA contributions underscore that effective housing policy must integrate economic opportunity and climate resilience, a theme also echoed in Latin America Pushes for New Housing Finance and Climate Resilience at WUF13. For European observers, the emphasis on local adaptation and social inclusion offers lessons for addressing housing challenges across the continent, where similar pressures from migration and climate change demand innovative approaches. As Baku Forum: Migration Must Be Core to Urban Planning, Not an Emergency suggests, integrating migration into urban planning is crucial for sustainable development.
