Launch of Direct Support System Compensates for Failures in Rural Social Housing Program and Doubles Results
The Minister of National Land Planning, Urban Development, Housing, and City Policy, Fatima Zahra Mansouri, acknowledged that the social housing program targeting rural areas, launched in 2019, did not achieve the desired results. She highlighted that the government has adopted a direct support system that has led to results three times better than the previous program within a short period.
In her response to an oral question in the House of Councillors from the Movement party regarding housing imbalances in rural areas, the minister explained that the previous program did not receive significant involvement from real estate developers, with only 1,347 housing units completed as of March 2025.
In contrast, the new direct support program has benefited around 4,000 individuals in rural areas, marking a significant advancement in housing policies for these regions. Mansouri emphasized that the ministry is focused on enhancing rural development to reduce regional disparities, improve the quality of life for residents, and increase the attractiveness of these areas.
Regarding urban development, the minister pointed to the acceleration of the preparation of urban planning documents and the simplification of building permit procedures through a joint circular issued with the Ministry of the Interior. This has resulted in the identification of 3,114 administrative neighborhoods over an area close to 100,000 hectares, benefiting more than 1.4 million people, compared to 975 neighborhoods before the issuance of the circular.
The number of approved permit applications has also risen to 52,198, with 86% related to housing, while the Al Omrane Group has been involved in implementing housing units in rural areas. Construction work has begun on more than 2,931 housing units spread across approximately 49 emerging rural centers in various regions of the country, including Sidi Rahal, Sidi Bou Othmane, Ait Ourir, Chichaoua, and Zagora.
