The Middle East Crisis and its Global Housing and Urban Impacts
Organized by: UN-Habitat with support from the Nizami Ganjavi International Center [NGIC]
May 21, 2026 | 12:00 - 13:30
(passed)
Summary
The current crisis in the Middle East is generating differentiated impacts, accelerating the global housing crisis. In directly affected countries with pre-existing acute vulnerabilities, housing stress is driven by destruction, displacement, and pressure on basic urban services. In countries in the region, impacts are affecting construction pipelines, housing finance flows, and creating uncertain urban futures. Beyond the region, ripple effects are intensifying housing stress in Africa and Asia Pacific, in particular in energy-importing or remittance-dependent economies, where rising fuel, food, and construction costs are eroding affordability, slowing housing delivery, and constraining post-disaster reconstruction.
Particular attention is needed for vulnerable urban populations, especially in informal settlements, whose limited residual income and reduced mobility heighten risks to livelihoods. Unlike energy prices, these housing impacts are likely to persist. The session will explore how to measure these effects and draw lessons on the way forward.
Objectives
The session aims to:
- Explore implications for the global housing crisis
- Differentiate the urban and housing impacts across different geographies.
- Examine what the risks are for the urban poor, living in informal settlements
- Draw lessons on the way forward
Guiding questions
- How do housing impacts differ across different geographies?
- How do energy, remittance, and construction cost shocks reshape housing systems globally?
- What are the most critical risks for informal urban populations under current conditions?
- What lessons should we draw and what action can we take?
Expected outcomes
The session will clarify differentiated impact pathways across different geographies. It will generate policy-relevant insights on protecting housing affordability, sustaining housing delivery, and addressing vulnerabilities in informal settlements. The session will also identify priority actions for integrating housing into macroeconomic assessments and humanitarian responses. Outcomes will inform analysis going forward and support more targeted country-level interventions, particularly in fragile and highly exposed economies.
Proposed Format (90 minutes)
1. Opening & Framing (5 minutes)
UN-Habitat and Nizami Ganjavi International Center [NGIC]
2. Panel Discussion (40 minutes)
A curated technical panel with thematic experts reflecting on differentiated geographic impacts, moderated by UN-Habitat.
3. Testimonies from affected countries (40 minutes) moderated by UN-Habitat
5. Closing remarks – UN-Habitat (5 minutes)