Under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, the "October Urbanism and First Gulf Housing Week" conference is set to commence at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center on Sunday. This event is organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and will carry the theme "Better City, Better Life."

The conference aligns with the most prominent annual global gathering in the field of urban planning, known as "October Urbanism," and "Gulf Housing Week," reinforcing the imperative of constructing improved cities and elevating the quality of life while emphasizing urban sustainability.

Over the span of three days, the conference aims to accomplish a series of urban development objectives, including the enhancement of cities, urban and real estate life, advancement of the housing and real estate sector, strengthening the sustainable urban economy, fostering a sustainable educational environment, and promoting environmental equilibrium.

The conference will delve into four primary topics: housing, urban planning, the future of school infrastructure, and city resilience. It will feature a review of over 65 research papers in fields encompassing urban planning, innovative applications, urban economics, sustainable cities, real estate development, urban resilience, environmental equilibrium, and mitigation of climate change risks.

More than 60 distinguished global and regional experts will engage in discussions on community engagement, the future of school infrastructure, planning policies, and financial sustainability within the urban planning domain.

During the conference, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning will examine 24 research papers focusing on "The Future of School Infrastructure." These papers will explore aspects such as school building design suitability, requisite standards and criteria, site selection factors, and the environmental impact on student education.

The "October Urban Exhibition" will feature over 35 sections with local and Gulf participation, presenting products, innovations, and services in the realms of housing and urban planning.

Additionally, the inaugural edition of the "Gulf Urban Hackathon" will take place, bringing together Gulf youth engaged in urban planning. This event will target teams and individuals dedicated to devising innovative solutions to urban challenges in the Sultanate of Oman.

Concurrently, the conference will announce the results of the "Map Bank Competition," initiated in July and involving consulting and design firms. The competition aims to streamline housing assistance for Omani citizens by producing comprehensive architectural and engineering maps.

The conference and the accompanying exhibition are anticipated to attract a diverse audience exceeding 50,000 visitors and participants, hailing from various local, Gulf, and international entities.

Furthermore, a preparatory meeting is scheduled for Monday in Muscat, which will be attended by housing agents from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. This will be succeeded by the 21st meeting focusing on housing affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on Tuesday.