Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family, will host the Sixth Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development 2025, from Dec. 14-16.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Social Development and Family said that the forum is being held this year under the slogan: "urban sustainability... for the future of generations," on the sidelines of the (42) session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction. The ministry indicated that this event embodies the State of Qatar's commitment to providing a leading platform for Arab dialogue, exchanging visions, and formulating practical solutions that contribute to developing more resilient cities and a better quality of life.

The ministry highlighted that organizing the forum reflects the Arab countries' commitment to enhancing cooperation in the areas of housing and sustainable urban development, exchanging expertise, and developing innovative mechanisms to address social, economic, and urban challenges, thus contributing to achieving sustainable development goals and building a prosperous urban future for future generations.

The forum will discuss three main interconnected themes. The first is smart housing as a gateway to achieving sustainable development, through developing supportive policies and legislation, adopting low-cost construction technologies, securing effective project financing, and enhancing risk management capabilities through early warning systems.

The second theme addresses housing as a pillar of social justice and improving quality of life, by ensuring adequate housing for all and promoting integration between urban and rural areas.

The third theme focuses on the sustainable reconstruction of cities after disasters and crises, by adopting a comprehensive approach to recovery and strengthening local and international partnerships to ensure the sustainability of construction and development processes after crises.

Preparations for the forum include broad Arab research participation. A number of important dates have been set, especially: Sep. 30, 2025, is the deadline for submitting research abstracts, Oct. 15 is the deadline for announcing preliminary acceptance results, and Nov. 8 is the deadline for submitting full research papers. Final acceptance of entries will be announced on Dec. 1, 2025. Arabic has been adopted as the official language of the forum, with the possibility of accepting research papers in English as well.

The forum is expected to serve as a strategic Arab platform for intensifying dialogue and exchanging expertise on housing and urban development issues, and contributing to the development of solutions that enhance the resilience and prosperity of Arab cities in the face of future challenges