The session is held as part of the Saudi Urban October 2026 programme, under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Municipalities and Housing, in partnership with King Saud University and the National Housing Company, with the participation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), within the framework of the partnership between the United Nations and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing. The session explores the interconnections between housing, land management, quality of life and urban governance through three complementary perspectives: national planning and policy; academia and research; and urban experiences and practices across Arab cities. It examines how urban planning and policy tools can support adequate housing, guide urban growth and improve quality of life in neighbourhoods, while highlighting the role of local authorities, universities and urban labs in developing solutions and translating them into practical approaches.