During the 6th Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Urban Development in Doha, Eng. Sherif El Sherbini, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, held talks with H.E. Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Qatar’s Minister of Social Development and Family, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation and sharing expertise to advance urban development and ensure adequate housing for all, Invest-Gate reports.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction, with the participation of senior officials from the ministries of housing and social development in both Egypt and Qatar.
At the outset of the meeting, El Sherbini expressed his pleasure at meeting the Qatari Minister, extending his sincere appreciation to the State of Qatar—its leadership, government, and people—for hosting the Council and the forum, praising the excellent organization, warm hospitality, and generous reception. He expressed his hope that the outcomes and recommendations of the 42nd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction and the 6th Arab Ministerial Forum on Housing and Urban Development would contribute to achieving comprehensive urban development across Arab countries.
For her part, Minister Buthaina Al Nuaimi welcomed El Sherbini and the accompanying Egyptian delegation, wishing them a successful and productive participation in the Council’s 42nd session and the Arab Ministerial Forum. She also reaffirmed Qatar’s keenness to further enhance cooperation with Egypt across areas of mutual interest.
The meeting reviewed the efforts undertaken by Egypt and Qatar to achieve urban development and ensure access to adequate housing, as well as various urban development experiences, ongoing projects, and opportunities for future cooperation between the two countries.
During the discussions, El Sherbini highlighted his recent field visits to Msheireb Downtown Doha and Souq Waqif, describing them as leading models for the redevelopment of historic and heritage urban areas. He praised Qatar’s experience in revitalizing culturally and historically significant districts through a balanced approach that preserves national identity while adopting sustainable and contemporary development practices.
The Housing Minister noted the strong similarities between these Qatari projects and Egypt’s experience in developing historic areas, such as the Fustat Hills Gardens Project and the surroundings of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. These projects aim to repurpose heritage areas in a way that balances cultural preservation with economic and tourism development, reflecting the shared vision of both countries to develop modern cities that safeguard their civilizational legacy.
El Sherbini concluded by affirming Egypt’s openness to fruitful cooperation with Qatar, emphasizing the importance of exchanging expertise and best practices to support sustainable urban development and provide decent housing for citizens in both Countries.