QF's Earthna, Qatari Diar sign MoU to advance sustainable urban planning in arid environments

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna) and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company have signed a memoran...

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation’s Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna) and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration under the Arid Cities Network (ACN).

This partnership marks a milestone for the Arid Cities Network, as Earthna and Qatari Diar join forces to advance sustainable urban planning in arid environments through knowledge-sharing, policy advocacy, and pilot projects.

Introduced during the second Earthna Summit in April 2025, the Arid Cities Network is a global community of practice that aims to bring together cities from arid and semi-arid regions to confront shared environmental challenges.

“Cities in hot and arid regions are grappling with the realities of extreme temperatures, water scarcity, and fragile ecosystems, making cross-regional knowledge-sharing essential to develop concrete solutions that help cities thrive despite challenging conditions,” said Executive Director of Earthna, Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata.

“The Arid Cities Network aims to address these challenges through collaborative action. By partnering with Qatari Diar, we can connect research and policy with real-world urban development and lead the way to develop replicable solutions for cities in hot and dry environments,” he added.