About

The UN-Habitat and the Arab Land Initiative are currently inviting interested organizations and institutions from the Arab region to submit expressions of interest to conduct an assessment of the urban rental housing market in the Arab region and identify best practices and policy recommendations for improving the urban rental market in the region.

The research seeks to generate evidence and practical recommendations to help improve rental housing affordability, security, and tenant protections, particularly for low-income households, displaced populations, and other vulnerable groups who rely heavily on rental housing.

The selected organization will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive assessment of the urban rental housing market in the Arab region. This will include a detailed desk review and interviews with key stakeholders to analyze trends, identify challenges, and highlight opportunities for reform. The research is expected to inform public policy discussions and guide interventions to improve rental housing systems across diverse urban contexts.

A key outcome of this initiative will be the development of a regionally relevant methodology for evaluating rental housing markets. The methodology will build on UN-Habitat’s existing housing profile tools while integrating new insights specific to the region’s housing dynamics. This approach will enable governments and institutions to assess rental conditions more accurately and design more effective housing policies.

Once the methodology is established, it will be piloted in one selected Arab country, chosen from Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, or Jordan. The resulting urban rental housing market profile will serve as a model that can be replicated and scaled across additional countries in the region.

UN-Habitat has allocated USD 75,000 to the selected implementing partner. This includes USD 67,000 for the methodological work, regional report, policy brief, and national housing market profile, along with USD 8,000 to support a regional Expert Group Meeting and an online webinar to disseminate findings and facilitate knowledge exchange.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be registered non-profit organizations based in the Arab region, including universities, NGOs, civil society organizations, and research or training institutions. Applicants should be proficient in Arabic and English and demonstrate expertise in housing markets, housing and land policy, land governance, or urban economics within the region.

This research initiative offers a significant opportunity to contribute to evidence-based housing reform, promote more equitable and secure rental housing systems, and support inclusive urban development across the Arab region.

Post Date: October 29, 2025