Muscat – The 4th Urban October Conference and Home & Building Expo will kick off next Monday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, focusing on sustainable urban planning and community involvement.

Announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the event will showcase significant real estate and planning projects in Oman, fostering idea exchange and cooperation between public and private sectors. Key themes include ‘Youth Impact,’ ‘Entertainment in Cities,’ ‘Inspiring Cities,’ and ‘Future Projects’. Attendees can expect over 40 local and international speakers, 40 working papers, and 8 dialogue sessions.

This year’s theme, ‘Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future’, aligns with UN activities in October, including World Habitat Day. An exhibition will feature 42 local and GCC entities, showcasing future city projects such as Sultan Haitham City and Al Khuwair Downtown. Renowned firms like Zaha Hadid and Foster with Partners will participate.

The conference will introduce the ‘Basamat Competition’ for key projects and the Urban Planning Hackathon, themed ‘City Challenge’, which focuses on designing a video game for future city planning. Additionally, the ‘Elevator Pitch’ competition will allow SMEs to present innovative ideas for integrated residential neighbourhood projects.

With over 65 activities planned, the conference aims to enhance investment opportunities and position Oman as a leading destination for urban development.