Turkey and Oman Strengthen Ties with Urban Planning Cooperation Agreement
Ankara, July 3, 2026 – Turkey and the Sultanate of Oman have formally cemented their commitment to collaborate on urban development and housing initiatives. A significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Housing and Urban Planning was signed yesterday, July 2, 2026, following a meeting between Murat Kurum, Turkey’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, and Khalfan Al Shueili, Oman’s Minister of Housing and Urban Planning.
The meeting, held at the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, focused on various areas of urban cooperation. Discussions also included an update on Turkey’s bid to host COP31, the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention.
Key Areas of Cooperation Outlined in MoU
The newly signed MoU outlines a framework for cooperation in several critical areas, including:
- Sustainable urban planning
- Infrastructure development
- Financing mechanisms for urban projects
- Housing policies
- Development of smart and resilient cities
This comprehensive agreement aims to leverage the expertise and resources of both nations to achieve shared goals in urban development and improve the quality of life for their citizens.
Omani Minister Praises Turkey’s Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Efforts
During the meeting, Omani Minister Al Shueili emphasized the importance of cooperation with Turkey. He expressed confidence in Turkey’s ability to achieve significant success in its COP31 presidency bid. Minister Al Shueili also conveyed his deep impression of Turkey’s reconstruction efforts in the earthquake-affected regions.
“Your work in the earthquake region gives us great hope. You have shown how governments can come to the aid and how strong Turkey’s resources are,” stated Minister Al Shueili, highlighting the effectiveness and resilience demonstrated by Turkey in the face of disaster.
Turkish Minister Underscores Shared Vision for Sustainable Urbanism
Minister Murat Kurum shared insights from the meeting on his social media account. He stated, “We had a productive meeting with His Excellency Dr. Khalfan Al Shueili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning of the Sultanate of Oman, and his accompanying delegation at our Ministry, discussing urbanism, housing, and resilient cities.”
Minister Kurum expressed his satisfaction that his Omani counterpart was closely following Turkey’s ongoing reconstruction efforts in the 11 earthquake-affected provinces. “We made a joint decision to share our experiences and signed the ‘Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Housing and Urban Planning.’ I believe that this cooperation, which will further strengthen the friendship between the two countries, will make significant contributions to concrete projects and our vision for sustainable urbanism,” he added.
The signing of this MoU marks a new chapter in the bilateral relations between Turkey and Oman, fostering a collaborative environment for addressing contemporary urban challenges and building more sustainable and resilient communities for the future.
The agreement is expected to pave the way for joint projects and exchanges of best practices, further solidifying the strategic partnership between the two nations in the realm of urban development. Both ministers expressed optimism about the positive impact this collaboration will have on their respective countries.
Source: https://www.dha.com.tr/yerel-haberler/ankara/turkiye-ve-umman-arasinda-mutabakat-zapti-imzal-2902719
