Third Gulf Housing Hackathon Launches with Participation of Students from GCC Countries, Coinciding with the Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition 2026

As part of the fourth Gulf Housing Week, and coinciding with the second edition of the Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition 2026, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and Eskan Bank, the third edition of the “Gulf Housing Hackathon” has commenced under the theme “A Youth Vision for the Future of Housing”, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Participants are taking on a challenge to develop an integrated vision for a real site belonging to one of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning’s projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Teams are provided with key data about the site and the challenge requirements, enabling them to develop concepts for an innovative and sustainable housing project that takes into account optimal land use, residents’ needs, and the feasibility of implementing the proposed ideas.

Five university students from each GCC country are participating in the hackathon, providing an opportunity to exchange expertise and combine a range of disciplines, including architecture, engineering, urban planning, real estate development, finance, and sustainability.

Over two days, the teams will develop their proposals at the Innovative Housing Solutions Lab with the support of experts and mentors. The proposals may cover housing unit typologies, community facilities and services, sustainability elements, as well as preliminary ideas for partnerships and suitable financing models.

At the conclusion of the hackathon, the teams will present their visions before a specialised judging panel, highlighting their key ideas for developing the site, elements of innovation, and the anticipated social and economic value. The best designs will be selected, and the winning teams will be honoured during the conference.

The hackathon aims to provide Gulf youth with the opportunity to work on a real-world housing challenge and present ideas with potential for further development, contributing to the creation of residential communities that meet families’ needs and support the future of the social housing sector across GCC countries.