Philippines Allocates Public Funds for Housing and Resettlement Projects Philippines: The Philippines’ Department of Public Works and Highways has directed its regional offices to work with the National Housing Authority to implement housing and resettlement projects for informal settlers with a total allocation of PHP 1,800 million (USD 32 million/EUR 29 million). Funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the programme targets resettlement needs in Metro Manila, Cala

South Australia and Federal Government Commit Funding for New Housing Programme Australia: The South Australian and federal governments have announced a joint housing programme valued at AUD 800 million (USD 530 million, EUR 490 million), which aims to deliver around 17,000 new homes across the state. Of this total, close to 7,000 homes are intended for first-home buyers. The initiative forms part of a wider federal commitment to increase housing supply nationally and include

Australia sees rise in dwelling construction activity Australia: Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that construction activity for new dwellings increased over the past year, though it remains below levels required to meet government housing targets. Dwelling commencements in the twelve months to September 2025 rose by 11.2 percent. The data indicates that housing demand continues to outpace supply, with delivery constraints identified as a key factor

Accelerates Riyadh Housing Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has more than 100 million square metres (sqm) of development-ready land available in Riyadh as the government aims to deliver 300,000 residential units in the capital over the next three years, according to Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail. Speaking at the Real Estate Future Forum on Monday, the minister said authorities have introduced fees on undeveloped plots and vacant properties to activate idle

Handshake UAE: Khansaheb Group has established itself as one of the region’s leading construction and engineering conglomerates, with a legacy of shaping the UAE’s built environment and a forward-looking vision for sustainable growth. Leveraging its scale, expertise, and diverse capabilities, the group has recently acquired ANABEEB from EMSTEEL Building Materials PJSC (ADX: EMSTEEL), a prominent infrastructure company specialising in end-to-end PVC and GRP industrial pipe man

District UAE: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday launched a AED 100 billion ($27.23 billion) mega project to expand the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) with the creation of the DIFC Zabeel District. According to the Dubai Government Media Office, the new district represents the region’s largest demand-driven expansion of a financial centre, covering 7.1 million sq. ft. of land with a t

France Unveils Ambitious Housing Recovery Plan Targeting Two Million Homes by 2030 FRANCE: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has presented a wide-ranging housing recovery plan aimed at addressing the country’s prolonged housing crisis. Central to the strategy is a target to build two million homes by 2030, equivalent to around 400,000 units per year, a significant increase from recent construction levels. The plan combines unprecedented financial support for social hous

Saudi Arabia Construction Sector Saudi Arabia: Construction costs in Saudi Arabia continued to rise at a steady pace in December 2025, with the Construction Cost Index increasing 1.1% year on year for the second consecutive month, supported by stable prices for materials and equipment rentals. The index stood at 101.8 points in December, unchanged from November monthly, according to data released by General Authority for Statistics. The stable trend comes as the Kingdom advan

Data Centers US: Commercial real estate construction is expected to record little or no growth this year, as higher interest rates, elevated material costs, and labor shortages weigh on new project activity. According to estimates from FMI Corp, spending on offices, hotels, apartments, and warehouses is projected to decline in 2026. In contrast, data centers remain a key exception, supported by continued investment from major technology companies to meet rising demand linked

Pre sale Finance Guarantee program Australia: The New South Wales Labor government has activated its US$ 685 million Pre sale Finance Guarantee program by supporting a 225 apartment mixed-use development in Rozelle, in Sydney's inner west. The US$ 195 million Rozelle Village redevelopment, located on the former Balmain Leagues Club site on Victoria Road, is the first project to receive backing under the scheme. The programme allows the state government to commit to presales f

Housing Project Australia: Construction has commenced on an US$ 85 million build to rent housing development in Eastwood, located just outside the Adelaide central business district. The Wirra Mikangka project will deliver 151 apartments across two buildings of nine and five storeys, with ground floor retail and hospitality space and shared gardens overlooking the city's southeastern parklands. Of the total apartments, 121 are allocated for people on low and moderate incomes,

Australia Construction Sector Australia: Global construction market intelligence firm Hubexo has released its 2026 Construction Outlook Report, outlining a period of recalibration for the Australian construction industry following several years of volatility, cost pressures, and capacity constraints. According to the report, the sector is entering 2026 in a reset phase, characterised by more disciplined project sequencing and a stronger focus on capacity management rather tha

Tokyu Garden City Plan Vietnam: Japan’s Tokyu Corporation is planning further growth for its Tokyu Garden City urban development in Binh Duong New City, north of Ho Chi Minh City, as part of ongoing efforts to expand large-scale mixed-use projects in Vietnam. The initiative, developed through a joint venture with Vietnamese partners, aims to build out residential, commercial, and community facilities in one of the region’s key growth zones, utilising urban planning experience

Shurooq UAE: Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, in collaboration with SEE Holding, has announced the launch of Sharjah Sustainable City II, a new integrated residential community in the Al Rahmaniya area of Sharjah. The development follows the earlier Sharjah Sustainable City project and will cover 7.8 million square feet, featuring 1,032 residential units including 944 three and four bedroom townhouses and 88 five bedroom villas. The project is designed around cle

Europe Construction Market Poised for Recovery in 2026 EUROPE: After two challenging years marked by cost inflation, weak demand and project delays, Europe’s construction sector is expected to return to growth in 2026. Following a contraction in 2024 and largely flat activity in 2025, stabilising economic conditions, improving confidence and sustained public investment are supporting a cautious recovery. Infrastructure and renovation projects are leading the rebound, underpin

Australia’s Housing Starts Rise, but National Housing Accord Misses Early Targets Australia: Australia’s National Housing Accord has reached its quarter-time mark as housing commencements and completions show mixed progress, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Total dwelling commencements rose 6.6% quarter-on-quarter to 48,778 in September 2025, with new private-sector house commencements increasing 6.9% to 28,845. However, completed private-sector house dwellin

Küchen Areal Expands Network with Addition of Küchenhaus Thulke in 2026 Germany: Küchen Areal has added Küchenhaus Thulke to its partner network from 2026, following the successful relocation and renovation of the retailer’s studio completed in summer 2025. A former beverage market in Petershagen was transformed into a modern kitchen showroom after the move from Minden, supported by Küchen Areal’s shopfitting expertise. The 330-square-meter studio features eight display kitch

Moderate Rise in Construction Costs Austria: In 2025, Austria recorded moderate increases in construction costs across both building and infrastructure segments, according to Statistics Austria. Construction costs for residential and settlement construction rose by 2.3 percent compared to 2024, while civil engineering also saw inflationary pressure across all sectors, with road construction costs increasing by 0.3 percent, bridge construction by 1.5 percent, and urban water m

United Arab Emirates Reports Sectoral Developments In 2025 UAE: The United Arab Emirates recorded developments across the energy, infrastructure, maritime transport, housing and digital transformation sectors in 2025, reflecting the implementation of national plans during the year. In the housing sector, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure issued three thousand five hundred and sixty-seven housing support decisions, with a total value AED 2.546 billion (approximately US

houses UK: The four-year framework helps housing providers and local authorities deliver large-scale retrofit programmes aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in homes across the UK. Developed in line with Procure Plus’ four-pillar approach to social housing procurement, focused on cost efficiency, quality and compliance, innovation, and social value, the framework emphasizes skills development, supply chain resilience, and positive outcomes for resident