Empowerment and Housing Initiative: A partnership to enhance housing stability in Saudi Arabia
In a significant step towards achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in the developmental housing sector, the “ENA International Exhibition for the Non-Profit Sector 2026” witnessed the signing of a tripartite partnership agreement to launch the “Empowerment and Housing”, which aims to enhance housing stability and economic and social empowerment for beneficiary families in the Kingdom.
The agreement was reached through the combined efforts of the “Support and Empower Mobile Trader” initiative, the “Sakan” Development Housing Foundation, and the “Kafa’a” Association for Operation and Maintenance. The agreement was signed by Her Royal Highness Princess Najoud bint Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on behalf of the “Support and Empower Mobile Trader” initiative, Mr. Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Jalajel, Secretary-General of the “Sakan” Foundation, and Engineer Ahmed Al-Otaibi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “Kafa’a” Association, in the presence of a select group of experts and stakeholders in the community development and non-profit housing sector.
General context and objectives of Vision 2030
This initiative comes within the framework of the integrated national efforts led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, which places great importance on developing the non-profit sector and increasing its contribution to the GDP. Providing suitable housing is also a key pillar of the Quality of Life Program, as the Kingdom seeks to increase homeownership rates among its citizens. Initiatives such as “Tamkeen and Housing” work to bridge the gap by offering innovative and sustainable solutions, complementing the efforts of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing and the government’s “Sakani” program, and directing their support to specific groups that need comprehensive empowerment that goes beyond simply providing shelter.
The importance of the initiative and its expected impact
The “Empowerment and Housing” initiative aims to provide comprehensive developmental housing solutions, starting with a study of the social and housing circumstances of beneficiary families and culminating in the provision of housing programs and products that contribute to improving their quality of life and enhancing their family stability. Her Royal Highness Princess Najoud bint Hathloul emphasized that housing stability is a key enabler for the sustainability of the mobile trader's business and for improving the quality of life for both the trader and their family, thus reinforcing the initiative's positive impact on the economic and social empowerment of beneficiaries.
The agreement includes the implementation of specialized developmental housing programs, most notably the “Waad” program for usufruct ending with ownership, which will be implemented in partnership with relevant financing and development entities. This integration among the three entities represents a unique model of effective partnership; “Sakān” provides expertise in developmental housing, while the “Support and Empowerment of the Mobile Trader” initiative focuses on economic empowerment, and “Kafa’a” ensures the sustainability of housing units through operation and maintenance services. This initiative is expected to have a tangible local impact in empowering targeted families and offers a model that can be applied more broadly to support sustainable development across the Kingdom.
