Minister of Equipment and Housing Inaugurates Study Day on the Occasion of World and Arab Habitat Day and World Cities Day
Under the presidency of Salah Zouari, Minister of Equipment and Housing, the ministry organized a study day in Tunis on Monday, October 27, 2025, to mark World and Arab Habitat Day and World Cities Day. The event was attended by Aïda Rabbana, head of the regional office of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for the Maghreb region, as well as several officials from central and regional administrations, representatives of public and private organizations, experts, and professionals in the sector.
Opening Speech
In his opening speech, Salah Zouari stated that the national housing policy aims to implement the principle of "decent housing for all" through a series of social programs and initiatives targeting low- and middle-income families. These initiatives include:
- The Housing Promotion Fund for Employees
- The Specific Social Housing Program
- The First Housing Program
- The National Habitat Improvement Fund
New Mechanism for Access to Ownership
The minister also announced the implementation, starting in 2026, of a new integrated rental-purchase mechanism as part of the finance law project, which will enable employees to access ownership. The necessary land for this program will be allocated symbolically to public promoters for one dinar.
Priority to the Habitat Land Agency
Salah Zouari specified that the ministry now prioritizes the Habitat Land Agency for the acquisition of land from the public domain or local authorities to develop social housing estates for low-income households.
Revision of the National Housing Strategy
Furthermore, the minister reported that the first phase of the revision of the national housing strategy has been completed, while the update of the national territorial development plan is underway. These efforts aim to establish a new approach to urban planning and accelerate the revision of development plans. To date, 482 plans are being developed or updated in 298 municipalities.
Preservation of Existing Real Estate Heritage
Regarding existing real estate heritage, the implementing texts of the law on buildings at risk of collapse will be published soon. The ministry is also preparing to implement the program for the rehabilitation of old urban centers, aiming to preserve and revitalize areas of patrimonial and architectural value.
Launch of the Second Rehabilitation and Integration Program
The minister finally announced the launch of the second program for the rehabilitation and integration of residential neighborhoods, which will concern 160 neighborhoods in 99 municipalities, with an estimated total cost of 868 million dinars.
Conclusion
Salah Zouari concluded by emphasizing that the success of the national housing policy requires better coordination between ministries, public institutions, and sector actors to address economic and social challenges and ensure dignified housing for every citizen.
