The Housing and Sustainable Urban Development Forum 2026 officially opened on February 11 in Riyadh, bringing together senior government officials, policymakers, developers, investors, and industry leaders to discuss urban development and construction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The forum is supported by key national and international organizations, including the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, the National Housing Company, the Saudi Building Code Center, the Saudi Council of Engineers, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, demonstrating the forum's close link to national development priorities and long-term urban planning goals in the country.
The two-day forum brought together over three hundred high-level delegates, including a significant number of decision-makers, managers, and project owners. The first day focused on accelerating large-scale housing construction, promoting sustainable and green urban development, further developing smart cities initiatives, strengthening public-private partnerships, and unlocking investment opportunities in the housing sector. It included keynote addresses, high-level panel discussions, and expert presentations on regulatory frameworks, public-private partnership models, investment strategies, and innovations in construction technologies aimed at creating inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready communities.
As part of the Housing and Sustainable Urban Development Conference, a presentation entitled "Midea Air Conditioners: Global Technologies Designed for Saudi Arabia. Made in Saudi Arabia" was presented by Harshal Upadhyay, CEO of Midea Shaker. The session covered topics such as localization, advanced manufacturing, and climate-smart technologies. Particular attention was paid to energy efficiency and sustainable cooling solutions for modern homes. The presentation emphasized the importance of local manufacturing in line with Vision 2030. This is a striking example of how global expertise combines with national priorities.
A special exhibition opened alongside the conference, showcasing solutions and innovations from leading regional and international companies in the fields of construction, building materials, sustainable development, climate-smart design, and urban planning, strengthening the forum's role as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and partnership building.
As demand for housing in the Kingdom continues to grow, the second day of the Housing and Sustainable Urban Development Forum featured new case studies and insightful expert-led discussions focused on shaping the next phase of sustainable housing and urban development in Saudi Arabia.