Launch of ARA-LG: The Arab Academic Network for Land Governance
The Arab Academic Network for Land Governance (ARA-LG) was officially launched during a dedicated session at the Third Arab Land Conference, held between 18-20 February 2025 in Rabat, Morocco. ARA-LG responds to the growing need for stronger academic engagement in land governance across the Arab region, connecting universities and research institutions to strengthen knowledge, innovation and collaboration in this vital field.
Land governance systems in the Arab region are under pressure from tenure insecurity, urban expansion, environmental degradation and post-conflict recovery. Despite these challenges, the field of land governance remains underrepresented in academic curricula, applied research and policy engagement.
ARA-LG was created to fill this gap, bridging the divide between academic knowledge, practical implementation and policy reform. The network aims to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in supporting inclusive, equitable and sustainable land governance systems.
A Vision for Regional Leadership
ARA-LG aspires to become the leading regional academic platform advancing land governance through:
Interdisciplinary education and curricula development
Applied, policy-relevant research
Professional training and capacity-building
Strategic dialogue with governments, civil society and development partners
The network is fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Its work also supports key international frameworks such as the Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration (FFP-LA) approach and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT).
Founding Members and Structure
ARA-LG is co-established by four leading universities with deep expertise in land-related disciplines, each contributing distinct regional perspectives and academic strengths:
Al-Quds University – Palestine
Al-Quds University leads the development of land governance education in Palestine through its groundbreaking Master's Program in Land Administration.
" The launch of the Master's Program in Land Administration at Al-Quds University marks a vital step in addressing one of the most pressing and complex sectors in Palestine and the Arab region. In Palestine, land is deeply intertwined with national identity, political rights, economic development, and social justice. However, the land sector faces ongoing challenges, including insecure land tenure, fragmented legal frameworks, limited access to reliable land information, and growing urban pressures—all intensified by prolonged occupation and political instability. This program is designed to build the institutional and human capacities necessary to modernize land governance, promote transparency, and support sustainable land management.
Through an interdisciplinary curriculum covering land tenure, valuation, land-use planning, GIS, and dispute resolution. The program not only responds to national needs but also aligns with regional priorities in the Arab world, where similar land-related challenges demand innovative and inclusive policy responses. By equipping a new generation of professionals with the knowledge and skills to lead reform of land good governance, and sustainable development across Palestine and the wider Arab region."
— Dr. Samer Raddad, Associate Professor and ARA-LG Network Coordinator, Al-Quds University
University of Duhok – Iraq
The University of Duhok, through the College of City and Regional Planning, focuses on post-conflict land governance and spatial planning in Iraq.
" The University of Duhok/College of City and Regional Planning aims to tackle pressing land governance issues facing post-conflict states, especially within Iraq. Years of conflict and displacement have formed deep scars on land rights, tenure security, and access to land. This network aims to offer scholarly insights, facilitate evidence-based policy, and bolster capabilities that foster equitable and effective land governance in Iraq and the Arab region."
— Dr. Layla M. Raswol, Associate Professor and Dean, College of City and Regional Planning
Cairo University – Egypt
Cairo University, with its long-standing leadership in engineering education, integrates land governance into urban development teaching and research.
"Land governance is the key to development—providing opportunities as well as posing threats to improving livelihoods. We join ARA-LG as founding partners to advance understanding of land governance in Egypt and the Arab region both academically and professionally. The Department of Architecture at Cairo University is working diligently on incorporating the latest land issues in its curricula, exploring new research agendas, providing opportunities for professional advancement and capacity."
— Prof. Dr. Heba Allah Essam E. Khalil, Professor of Sustainable Urbanism, Cairo University
Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine – Morocco
IAV Hassan II brings advanced expertise in geospatial sciences and a track record of leadership in land governance education through the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA).
" The Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine is willing to deeply collaborate with the esteemed institutions and leverage our expertise in developing innovative solutions for land governance in the Arab Region. By joining forces, within the Academic Arab Network of Excellence on Land Governance, ARA-LG, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of communities and contribute to the sustainable development of the region. We believe that our Institute will complement the network's objectives, ultimately leading to improved land administration, enhanced property rights, modernized infrastructures, and more equitable access to land resources. "
— Dr. Moha El-Ayachi, Professor of Geomatic Sciences and Surveying Engineering
Strategic Foundation and Governance
ARA-LG was launched in strategic partnership with the Arab Land Initiative. As a founding partner and co-creator of the network, the Initiative contributes regional expertise in land governance, policy development and institutional capacity building. The Arab Land Initiative facilitates policy engagement and ensures alignment with broader Arab land governance priorities to address the key challenges of land tenure insecurity, urban expansion and unsustainable land use in the Arab region. The Initiative also provides critical guidance in aligning the network's goals with regional and international efforts aimed at promoting land rights, governance reforms and equitable development.