Homeownership is a basic desire everywhere, including in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). However, the GCC is facing a large housing gap, despite its relative affluence. Although several GCC governments are currently building developments aimed primarily at low- to middle-income households, these programs are unlikely to yield the socioeconomic gains the region needs. Experience shows that short-term policies to provide low-cost homes en masse are not sustainable and result in a large stock of low-quality housing that replicates the environmental problems of past decades. In addition, these programs are often driven by government agencies with minimal involvement from the private sector, leading to slower construction and a less sustainable and lower-quality housing sector overall.