Projecting the Future of
Housing and Sustainable Community Development
- 16-17 September 2024
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
2023 GOVERNMENT Supporting Partners
Event Partners
EVENT OVERVIEW
The inaugural Arab Housing and Community Development Forum was held on 11 – 12 September 2023, at the Etihad Towers Conrad Hotel, Abu Dhabi with the support of by Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The Forum’s opening ceremony was inaugurated with the keynote speech from H.E. Eng. Mohamed Almansoori, Director General, Sheikh Zayed Housing Program.
The 1st edition served as a prominent platform to discuss sustainability and encourage collaboration and building partnerships amongst organizations, thought leaders and specialists, to drive the housing sector towards a green, prosperous future. It provided a unique opportunity to engage with key stakeholders from government authorities, private developers, contractors, builders, and tech providers. Participants witnessed firsthand the showcase of subsidized housing programs, groundbreaking achievements, and innovative solutions that are driving the sector’s development.
Join us next year on 16-17 September 2024 in Abu Dhabi to continue the discussion and further drive the development and growth of the industry. With over 200 Arab influential government leaders, housing program directors, community development decision makers, real estate and construction experts, design visionaries, and innovative technology providers to tackle challenges head on, and seize the abundant market opportunities.
Who should attend?
Organizations:
- Government
- Architectural design firms and consultants
- Real estate developers
- Government housing programs and funds
- Semi-government and private real estate developers
- Community development organizations
- Construction companies
- Contractors
- Banks
- NGOs and IGOs
- Housing publications
Attendee Profiles:
- Regulators and policy makers
- C-level executives from the real estate sector
- Architects and civil engineers
- Experts in housing and urban development
- Housing authorities and ministries’ officials
- Consultants
- Bankers
- Real estate development directors
- Heads of projects/project managers
- Design directors
- Community development experts
- Construction technology experts
- Researchers and academics
Event in numbers
Advisory Board
Abdulrhman Aljohani
Director of Projects & Innovation, Developmental housing Foundation (SAKAN)
Steven Velegrinis
Design Director - Urbanism & Landscape Architecture,
Gensler
Anamaria Castillo
Landscape Strategies Director, KALQ Studio
Jeevan D’Mello
President,
Community Associations Institute
Faisal Durrani
Head of Middle East Research, Knight Frank
Speakers
Conference Chairman of Day 1
Mohamed Al Breiki
Executive Director, Sustainable Development, Masdar City
Conference Chairman of Day 2
Khalid Ababneh
Chief Executive Officer,
Dubai MCC
His Excellency Eng. Mohammed Ebrahim Almansoori
Director General of Sheikh Zayed Housing Program
Mohamed Al Breiki
Executive Director, Sustainable Development, Masdar City
Abdulrhman Aljohani
Director of Projects & Innovation, Developmental housing Foundation (SAKAN)
Steven Velegrinis
Design Director - Urbanism & Landscape Architecture,
Gensler
Anamaria Castillo
Landscape Strategies Director, KALQ Studio
Chris Wan
Associate Director, Sustainability and CSR,
Masdar City
Jeevan D'Mello
President of Community Associations Institute
Abdulaziz Bati Al Marshoudi
Construction Manager,
Muscat Municipality
Faisal Durrani
Head of Middle East Research, Knight Frank
Sanu Mathew
Managing Director,
SEED Engineering
Dr. Nabyl Chenaf
Dean, School of Architecture, American University in Dubai
Rania Hammad
Programme Management Officer, United Nations
Harish Wadkar
Senior Vice President- Commercial, Budget & Feasibility,
DAMAC Properties
Varughese Mathew
Chief Operating Officer,
Sobha Realty
Mohamed Abdulmajeed Almarzooqi
Chief Engineer of Renewable Energy Systems and Rationalization, Abu Dhabi City Municipality
Abdullah Al-Qahtani
Projects Delivery Director, King Abdullah Financial District
Amjad Abou Said
Head of Meydan Property Management
Mohammed Abunayyan
Chief Executive Officer,
Tamear
Khalid Ababneh
Chief Executive Officer,
Dubai MCC
Fahad Mohamed
Director of Operations
Design Division,
KEO International Consultants
Sadiq Jaffer Suliman
CEO,
Maysan Properties
Joshua Coetzee
Managing Director,
Moddsys Modular
Qasim Al Harasi
Head of Planning Greater Muscat · Ministry of Housing & Urban Planning
Maha Jamal
Design Director,
LUSTRE LIGHTING
Fabio Grilli
Design Director- Development, Emaar
Sebastien Miller
Design Manager,
Masdar City
Manu Karan
Senior Vice President Business Development
Source Global
Mohamed Arab
Business Development Manager
Dahua Technology
Salwa Al-Maflahi
Group Director of
Sustainability and Social Responsibility,
Aldar
Hussam Al-Haddad
CEO,
ATEÏS Middle East
Philip John Witts
COO,
ATEÏS Middle East
Sumaiah Al Hammadi
Architect & Urban Planning Engineer,
Ajman Municipality and Planning Department
Abdulla Alshihhi
Senior Director of Engineering Supervision Dept.,
Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment
Jomaa Ben Sassi
Co-Founder,
Sotunec Saraya
Basel Khalid Mohammed
Technical & Factory Manager,
3DXB Group
Ali F Said
General Manager,
Readymix Gulf
Yahya Alhassan Siraj
Chief Project and Partnership (PPP) & Real Estate Operation Officer,
National Housing Company
Agenda
08:00
Registration and networking
08:50
Opening remarks by Great Minds
08:55
Welcome address and opening remarks by conference Chairman
09:05
Opening Keynote address
- H.E Eng. Mohamed Almansoori, Director General, Sheikh Zayed Housing Program
09:15
Opening panel discussion: Driving the region’s housing plans and strategies to meet the growing demand
- Meeting the regional high demand on housing by enabling national housing programs
- Expediting the national housing strategy implementation via effective policies and enabling progressive building practices
- Highlighting the region’s diverse housing options
Panelists:
- Mohamed Al Breiki, Executive Director, Sustainable Development, Masdar City
- Qasim Al-Harasi, Head Section of Planning, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning Oman
- Abdulrahman Aljohani, Director of Projects & Innovation, Developmental housing Foundation (SAKAN)
- Mohammed Abunayyan, Chief Executive Officer, Tamear
Moderator:
- Khalid Ababneh, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai MCC
Enabling the region’s housing affordability
09:55
Panel Discussion: Utilizing modular construction, 3D Printing and precast to reduce construction cost and enable housing affordability
- Utilizing modular construction and precast as an aid in driving speed and scalability in project delivery
- Enhancing labor safety and drastically cutting the cost
- Role of modular construction and precast in bridging the demand gap by reducing delivery time
- Eliminating the weather factor from the construction process through controlled environment fabrication
- Decreasing the need for storage in construction sites
- Scaling up the use of 3D printing for the construction sector and striking a balance between affordability and long-term value
Panelists:
- Abdulaziz Bati Al Marshoudi, Construction Manager, Muscat Municipality
- Sadiq Jaffer Suliman, CEO, Maysan Properties
- Basel Khalid Mohammed, Technical & Factory Manager, 3DXB Group
Moderator:
- Dr. Nabyl Chenaf, Dean of School of Architecture, American University in Dubai
10:35
Project spotlight: Charting a Net Zero Future: Aldar's Decarbonization Pathway
- Salwa Al Maflahi, Group Director of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Aldar Properties
10:50
Arab region country briefings
- Overview of the ambitious housing programs and strategies in the United Arab Emirates
- Updates on Oman’s visions and plans for affordable housing
Speakers:
- Abdulla Ahmed AlShihhi, Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment
- Qasim Al-Harasi, Ministry of Housing & Urban Planning, Oman
11:10
Advancing sustainable housing through innovative modular solutions in the arab region
Speaker:
- Joshua Coetzee, Managing Director, ModdSys Modular
11:25
Keynote Presentation: Premium Renewable Drinking Water from the Sky
Speaker:
- Manu Karan, Senior VP Business Development, Source Global
11:40
Networking coffee break
Housing sustainability and achieving the region’s net-zero targets
12:10
Panel Discussion: Meeting the global sustainability standards without compromising the housing market’s profitability
- Increasing real estate value by incorporating green building techniques and materials
- Considering long-term value vs construction cost
- Highlighting resale value when converting to green buildings
- Selecting the right green building materials and ensuring their affordability and availability
Panelists:
- Chris Wan, Associate Director, Sustainability and CSR, Masdar City
- Sanu Mathew, Managing Director, SEED Engineering
- Ali F. Said, General Manager, Ready Mix Gulf - "Member of Holcim Group"
- Mohammed Abunayyan, Chief Executive Officer, Tamear
Moderator:
- Khalid Ababneh, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai MCC
12:50
Technology innovation sessions
- The session consists of 10-minute back-to-back presentations from experts in the industry who will share their expertise and knowledge on the successful application of a variety of advanced construction technologies and solutions.
-
Industry insight 1
Mohamed Arab, Dahua Technology -
Industry insight 2: Innovating Homes of Tomorrow: Connected Living, Enhanced Safety Sustainable Energy, and Pro-Audio Streaming Experience.
Hussam Al-Haddad, CEO, ATEÏS Middle East
Philip John Witts, COO, ATEÏS Middle East FZCO -
Industry insight 3: The Effect of Light
Maha Ahmed, Design Director, Lustre
13:20
Panel Discussion: Understanding the market drivers for luxury real estate in the region
- Discussing the race to meet the unprecedented demand in luxury real estates
- Exploring the affordable luxury housing market, and how to maximize its potential
- Adopting sustainability, shared access to common green spaces, and shared community amenities as luxury features
- Design efficiency, layout, and technology integration for luxury villas and apartments to future proof luxury demand
- Striking a balance between cost and value in affordable luxury
- Refurbishment of existing luxury real estate to future-proof prime housing
Panelists:
- Harish Wadkar, Senior Vice President- Commercial, Budget & Feasibility, DAMAC Properties
- Varughese Mathew, Chief Operating Officer, Sobha Realty
- Sadiq Jaffer Suliman, Chief Executive Officer, Maysan Properties
Moderator:
- Faisal Durrani, Head of Middle East Research, Knight Frank
14:00
Project spotlight – A look at the region’s leading sustainable cities and housing projects
- Project spotlight 1: Charting a Net Zero Future: Aldar's Decarbonization Pathway
-
Project spotlight 2
Varughese Mathew, Chief Operating Officer, Sobha Realty
14:10
Keynote presentation
Speaker:
- Mohamed Arab, Dahua Technology
14:25
Presentation: Improving residence efficiency, functionality, and sustainability through retrofitting
- Meeting the regional rising demand for retrofitting solutions
- Incorporating green roofs into buildings to improve building sustainability ratings
- Addressing the need for a collaborative strategy to improve outdated homes and buildings across the region
- Resolving the high failure rates relating to energy efficiency in housing
Speaker:
- Sanu Mathew, Managing Director, SEED Engineering
14:40
Chairman closing remarks, networking lunch, and end of conference day 1
08:00
Registration and networking
09:00
Opening remarks by conference chairman
09:10
Day two opening session: Arab country briefings
- Saudi Vision 2030 for housing programs – strategy and upcoming projects
Speakers:
- Abdulrhman Aljohani, Director of Projects & Innovation, Developmental housing Foundation (SAKAN)
Innovation in community development
09:30
Panel discussion: Re-imagining exterior spaces in the context of community engagement and sustainable strategies
- Emphasizing the importance of designing exterior spaces that prioritize the needs, preferences, and aspirations of the community.
- Discussing how sustainable design principles can be seamlessly integrated into exterior spaces to promote environmental stewardship and well-being.
- Examining the role of exterior spaces in promoting inclusivity and diversity by creating spaces that cater to various age groups, abilities, and cultural backgrounds.
- Discussing how forward-thinking design can address future challenges, such as climate change and urbanization, by creating adaptable and resilient residential communities.
Panelists:
- Jeevan D'Mello, President of Community Associations Institute
- Amjad Abou Said, Head of Meydan Properties Management
- Qasim Al-Harasi, Head of Planning Greater Muscat, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Oman
- Rania Hammad, Programme Management Officer, UNDRR
Moderator:
- Anamaria Castillo, Landscape Strategies Director, KALQ Studio
10:10
Presentation: Sustainable Housing Strategy in Ajman
- Sumaiah Alhammadi, Architect & Urban Planning Engineer, Ajman Muncipality
10:25
Panel discussion: Achieving energy efficiency through green buildings and carbon negative building materials
- Lowering operational cost for sustainable developments by adopting green design
- Collaborating with the regulators and policy makers to amplify green building standardization efforts
- Incorporating renewable energy solutions into housing to achieve energy efficiency
- Highlighting the importance of insulation in reducing energy consumption
Panelists:
- Chris Wan, Associate Director, Sustainability and CSR, Masdar City
- Mohamed Abdulmajeed Almarzooqi, AD City Municipality
- Mohammed Abunayyan, CEO, Tamear
- Abdulaziz Bati Al Marshoudi, Construction Manager, Muscat Municipality
Moderator:
- Khalid Ababneh, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai MCC
11:00
Presentation: Improving construction operations, labor safety, and reducing costs through innovative technologies
- Achieving efficiency and speed in construction through utilizing 3D printing technology
- Role of 3D printing in overcoming construction safety challenges
- Eliminating waste and waste management cost by implementing 3D printing in construction
- Utilizing Aerial Drone Surveying technology to reducing expenses and improve data accuracy
- Moving towards AI automation and allowing human capital to add more value
Speaker:
- Basel Khalid Mohammed, Technical & Factory Manager, 3DXB Group
11:15
Networking coffee break
Advancing housing and community development through technology and design best practices
11:45
Technology innovation sessions
- The session consists of 10-minute back-to-back presentations from experts in the industry who will share their expertise and knowledge on the successful application of a variety of advanced construction technologies and solutions.
-
Industry insight 1: FOCUS ON EFFICIENT MODULAR HOUSING
Joshua Coetzee, Managing Director, ModdSys Modular -
Industry insight 2
Jomaa Ben Sassi, Co-Founder, Sotunec Saraya
12:05
Panel Discussion: Improving design and driving community engagement
- Exploring placemaking and the role of community in the design process
- Leveraging community assets and encouraging pre-design dialogue
- Community management and the bridging the gaps with the local communities
- Using generative AI to accommodate community needs through design
Panelists:
- Steven Velegrinis, Design Director - Urbanism & Landscape Architecture, Gensler
- Fabio Grilli, Design Director – Development, Emaar
- Fahad Mohamed, Director of Operations – Design Division, KEO International Consultants
- Sebastian Miller, Design Manager, Masdar City
- Abdullah Al-Qahtani, Projects Delivery Director, King Abdullah Financial District
12:50
Networking Break
12:50
Technology innovation sessions
- The session consists of 10-minute back-to-back presentations from experts in the industry who will share their expertise and knowledge on the successful application of a variety of advanced construction technologies and solutions.
-
Industry insight 1
Joshua Coetzee, Managing Director, ModdSys Modular -
Industry insight 2
Jomaa Ben Sassi, Co-Founder, Sotunec Saraya
13:20
Unlocking the potential of IoT retrofits, Smart Surveillance and Smart Homes and their role in improving sustainability ratings and quality of life
- Internet of Things (IoT) retrofits and their role in delivering real-time insights for home owners and facility managers
- Achieving water efficiency through smart water management solutions
- The impact of smart homes in achieving energy efficiency
- Highlighting the Integral role of smart surveillance solutions in driving safety and improving quality of life
Panelists:
- Jeevan D’Mello, President, Community Associations Institute
- Amjad Abou Said, Head of Meydan Property Management
- Senior Executive, Dahua Technology
Moderator:
- Anamaria Castillo, Landscape Strategies Director, KALQ Studio
14:00
Presentation: Culture as a driving element for urban design.
- The identity of a place and people’s voices (culture, heritage, creative cities, architecture
- The importance of native landscape (ecosystem, water conservation, cultural landscapes)
- The role of materials in design
- Sustainability from a human and financial perspective
Speaker:
- Anamaria Castillo, Landscape Strategies Director, KALQ Studio
14:15
Panel Discussion: Understanding the market drivers for luxury real estate in the region
- Discussing the race to meet the unprecedented demand in luxury real estates
- Exploring the affordable luxury housing market, and how to maximize its potential
- Adopting sustainability, shared access to common green spaces, and shared community amenities as luxury features
- Design efficiency, layout, and technology integration for luxury villas and apartments to future proof luxury demand
- Striking a balance between cost and value in affordable luxury
- Refurbishment of existing luxury real estate to future-proof prime housing
Panelists:
- Harish Wadkar, Senior Vice President- Commercial, Budget & Feasibility, DAMAC Properties
- Varughese Mathew, Chief Operating Officer, Sobha Realty
- Sadiq Jaffer Suliman, Chief Executive Officer, Maysan Properties
Moderator:
- Faisal Durrani, Head of Middle East Research, Knight Frank
14:50
Closing remarks by Conference Chairman, networking lunch and end of conference
Why you should attend?
Learn about the latest construction technologies, methods, and trends, from leading industry experts
Learn about the main challenges faced and how to overcome and deliver high-quality housing projects
Network and exchange knowledge and expertise with C-level executives, decision makers, thought leaders, and industry Gurus
Sponsors & Partners
Associate Sponsor
Associate Sponsor
Associate Sponsor
Associate Sponsor
Associate Sponsor
Official 3D Printing Sponsor
Panel Partner
Strategic Kitchen Partner
Strategic Water Partner
Strategic Partner
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Industry Partner
Industry Partner
Industry Partner
Who should sponsor?
- Engineering firms
- Interior design companies
- Building material suppliers
- Equipment Lessors
- Renovators
- 3D print concrete
- Concrete solutions
- Solar solutions
- Modular construction solutions
- Construction robotics
- Swimming pools
- Innovative housing solutions
- Facilities management companies
- Community management companies
- Modular kitchen solutions
- Sanitaryware
- Flooring solutions
- Roofing solutions
- Painting solutions
- Insulation solutions
- GYM / gym equipment
- Playground (recreation)
Why should you get involved?
LOCAL PARTNERS
NETWORKING & SOCIAL
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP PRESENTATIONS
BRAND AWARENESS
MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES
LEAD GENERATION
Media Partners
Project Intelligence Partner
Venue
Address
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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To register as partner for the Arab Housing and Community Development Forum, please contact: partnerships@gmevents.ae
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