On the margins of her attendance at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, held in the Azerbaijani capital Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026, under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,” Engineer Randa El-Menshawy, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, met with Dr. Khalfan bin Said Al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning of the Sultanate of Oman. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of housing and urban development.
At the outset of the meeting, Engineer Randa El-Menshawy highlighted the strong historical ties between the two brotherly nations, stressing the importance of deepening cooperation in housing and urban development in a way that supports sustainable development goals and improves the quality of life for citizens.
The discussions covered several areas of cooperation, including the exchange of expertise in urban development and new city construction, approaches to achieving sustainable urban development objectives, and the sharing of experience in the redevelopment and replanning of older urban areas to ensure the application of modern planning standards and the enhancement of environmental quality in cities.
Both sides also explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration between public and private sector companies in Egypt and Oman in housing, urban development, and real estate development, as well as to facilitate investment partnerships between Egyptian and Omani firms to support the implementation of joint development projects.
Engineer Randa El-Menshawy affirmed the readiness of Egyptian construction companies to take part in executing development projects in the Sultanate of Oman, given their extensive expertise in construction, infrastructure, and urban development, in addition to their highly skilled technical and human resources.
For his part, Dr. Khalfan bin Said Al Shueili expressed his appreciation for the comprehensive and unprecedented urban renaissance taking place in the Arab Republic of Egypt in recent years. He praised the significant progress achieved in smart new cities, infrastructure development, and social housing, noting that it reflects a clear vision and strong political will supporting sustainable urban growth.
He also expressed Oman’s interest in benefiting from Egypt’s leading expertise in this sector and in further strengthening bilateral cooperation for the benefit of both countries.
He further commended the efficiency and experience of Egyptian companies in implementing national and development projects and their notable success in the construction and urban development fields.
In conclusion, both sides agreed to maintain coordination and activate mechanisms of joint cooperation in the coming period to advance sustainable urban development, strengthen investment partnerships, and expand the exchange of expertise between the two friendly countries across various housing and urban planning sectors.