Engineer Randa Al-Manshawi, the Minister of Housing and Public Utilities and Urban Communities of Egypt, attended the official opening ceremony of the sixth edition of the 'October Urban 2026' exhibition and conference held in the capital of Oman, Muscat. This event was organized on the occasion of World Habitat Day in 2026 under the slogan 'Adequate Housing for All' and was supported by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme 'UN-Habitat'.
Presence of Prominent International Figures
The opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking international figures. Among the participants were Sheikh Abdul Malik bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalili, Chairman of the Council of Oman, Dr. Khalfan bin Said Al-Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning of Oman, and Anna Claudia Rosbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Additionally, housing ministers and officials, experts, and representatives from international organizations and the private sector from Egypt and Oman were also present at the event.
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Exchange of Experiences and International Cooperation
Engineer Al-Manshawi emphasized in her speech that World Habitat Day is an important opportunity to exchange views and experiences regarding the best policies and solutions for providing adequate housing for all. She noted that Egypt pays special attention to housing and urban development and is pursuing comprehensive programs aimed at improving the quality of life and developing urban communities. These programs include enhancing the quality of life, ensuring balanced urban communities, and increasing the capacity of cities to accommodate population and economic growth.
The Egyptian minister also referred to her country's experiences in recent years and stressed the necessity of synergy between urban planning, investment, and infrastructure. This synergy can contribute to building more sustainable and resilient cities in the face of future challenges.
During the ceremony, Engineer Al-Manshawi visited the booths of the participating countries at the exhibition, becoming familiar with Oman's strategic plans and promotional films showcasing the future vision for the development of transport networks, facilities, and urban expansion. She also learned about the showcased construction and housing projects and successful experiences in urban development and housing.
The Egyptian Minister of Housing also visited the booths of Egyptian companies present at the exhibition that are active in implementing large projects in Oman, including projects in Sultan Haitham City. She praised the volume of investment cooperation and the capability of Egyptian companies in exporting real estate and construction experiences to Arab markets.
