At the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, housing debates across 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.
