The Urbanism, Housing and Construction Exhibition and Conference, coinciding with World Habitat Day 2026, commenced on Monday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The four-day event aims to bring together developers, investors, experts and policymakers to focus on sustainable housing, urban development, and enhancing quality of life.
Organized by Oman’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the event forms part of the global ‘Urban October’ initiative. It runs through October 8 and was inaugurated under the patronage of Shaikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al Khalili, Chairman of the State Council. UN Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, along with officials and specialists from various countries, attended the opening ceremony.
The expo, themed “Adequate Housing for All,” saw the signing of 20 partnership, development, and tender-award agreements totaling over 1 billion Omani rials (RO). These agreements encompass projects across several key urban development sites, including Sultan Haitham City, Al Thuraya City, Khazaen Economic City, Kamzar Residential Scheme, and integrated residential and tourism developments.
In Sultan Haitham City, tenders awarded include a RO 12 million contract for constructing a rehabilitation complex for persons with disabilities and a care home for older adults. Additionally, a RO 14 million tender was granted for diverting a wadi adjacent to Al Barakah Palace. A community partnership agreement with Aflaj Group was also signed to develop a sports and health trail in the city.
Al Thuraya City secured a RO 45 million development agreement for Neighbourhood 5C, which consists of 220 housing units. Another RO 55 million deal was finalized for Neighbourhoods 5A and 5B, comprising 265 units, alongside a RO 4.5 million consultancy contract to develop a detailed master plan for Phase Three.
The event also highlighted the signing of eight agreements under the ‘Surooh’ integrated residential neighbourhoods programme, totaling RO 186.6 million. These projects are set to provide 2,443 housing units across several Omani governorates.
Tourism-related developments were represented by agreements for the Sultan Qaboos Port waterfront project with Omran Group, the Al Bandar project with Al Bandar Development, and the Yanquat Hills integrated tourism project in partnership with Masa Al Qurum Development.
Addressing a press conference during the event, Dr Khalfan bin Said al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, noted that the ministry has created structural plans covering approximately 70 percent of Oman’s urban areas over the past four years. These plans, informed by international best practices and local expertise, offer a 20-year roadmap for urban growth while ensuring balanced development. Dr al Shueili emphasized housing as a fundamental human right and highlighted that over 90 percent of Oman’s population own their homes.
He also underscored the critical importance of water security in urban planning, given Oman’s arid climate, and outlined ongoing efforts to enhance water network efficiency and reduce losses.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach praised the availability of numerous housing and urban development solutions but identified implementation and scalability as the primary challenges. She stressed the need for housing strategies to integrate transport, land use, financing, services, and employment opportunities.
Rossbach further noted that urban populations worldwide are expected to reach approximately 70 percent in coming decades, emphasizing that cities must serve their residents while harmonizing with nature. She highlighted the role of technology, artificial intelligence, and digital tools in advancing land and resource management as critical components of future urban development strategies.