CEO of the Agence foncière d’habitation (AFH), Rejeb Araoud, announced that the agency has prepared a series of concrete measures and will officially launch the sale of individual plots for low-income households starting in 2026.
In an exclusive interview with Africanmanager on Friday, August 22, 2025, Araoud noted that the total number of land requests currently stands at 120,000, highlighting that AFH faces strong demand in Greater Tunis, the Sahel, and Nabeul.
He added that AFH offers between 500 and 1,000 plots per year. The CEO emphasized that AFH’s plot prices are unbeatable and significantly lower than market rates.
He further explained: “In recent years, the number of residential land requests reached around 278,000. However, since May 15, 2025, the agency has canceled more than 150,000 requests due to clients not updating their applications.
Today, the number of requests stands at 120,000, and all clients must update their request every three years to avoid cancellation.”
On another note, he said: “Some files are over 30 years old, reflecting the strong land pressure in certain areas and the scarcity of plots. The agency has not been able to meet the high demand.
For example, El Menzah faces thousands of requests, making it impossible to satisfy all applicants.”
Overall, most requests are concentrated in Greater Tunis, the Sahel, and Nabeul, while other regions, such as Kébili, Makthar, Testour, and Mhammedia, face much lower pressure.
Araoud also indicated that “The AFH reviews around 6,000 files annually, while the number of plots allocated ranges between 500 and 1,000.
In 51 years, the agency has allocated around 434 plots covering 8,000 hectares nationwide.”
Strong competition
He added: “The agency achieves financial balance by selling commercial and multipurpose plots through public auctions.
We have succeeded despite strong competition in the housing sector, both public and private.”
“Our main role remains to support and implement the state’s housing policy and provide housing and a suitable living environment for citizens.
The agency’s interventions in creating new residential neighborhoods reduce uncontrolled agricultural exploitation and limit informal housing in some areas,” he said.
The CEO also emphasized that the agency aims to create a balanced urban fabric, allowing citizens to live in a healthy environment socially, educationally, economically, and culturally.
“In efforts to improve the supply of decent housing for low-income households, a decision was published in the Official Journal on April 8, 2025, allowing the AFH to acquire state or local government land at a preferential price, in exchange for providing developed urban areas and allocating part of the plots to low-income households.
This decision sets the preferential price at a 70% reduction of the land’s value, after evaluation by a state real estate expert.”
He explained: “This reduction is granted in exchange for providing developed plots and allocating at least 50% of the completed plots on land acquired at this preferential price to low-income households…
The projects will be officially marketed in 2026, and the agency is currently completing the development of the subdivisions,” he concluded.
