Bahrain’s biggest-ever two-year national state budget, reaching up to BD9 billion, is set for a vote in Parliament today.
Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa handed over the draft budget legislation to Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam and Shura Council Chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh during two separate ceremonies yesterday.
Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain and senior members and officials were present.
According to the draft, the total spending budget for both this year and the next will be BD8.916bn, divided into BD4.379bn this year and BD4.536bn the next.
Recurrent expenditure will be BD8.366bn – BD4.104bn this year and BD4.261bn the next.
A total of BD550 million will be spent on projects, divided equally into BD275m each year.
The government is anticipating general revenues of around BD6.383bn – BD2.924bn this year and BD3.459bn the next.
A total of BD37.234m is expected to be transferred to the Future Generations Fund from exported oil barrels – BD18.703m this year and BD18.531m the next.
The deficit calculated for both years is BD2.532bn with BD1.455bn this year and BD1.077bn in 2026. As mentioned in law, the deficit will be covered through borrowing.
Municipal revenues for both years, covering the Capital Trustees Authority and the three other municipalities, is expected to hit BD215m – BD105m this year and BD110m in 2026. Municipal spending would be BD199.593m – BD99.363m this year and BD100.230m the next.
The Finance and National Economy Minister is authorised under the legislation to distribute BD134.469m wherever needed – BD62.292m this year and BD72.177m next year.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee has set a record with the 2025-2026 national state budget by reviewing it and recommending approval on the day of its submission.
Committee chairman MP Ahmed Al Salloom said the record time was achieved as a consensus was reached before submission.
“We have BD784.585m in government subsidies this year and BD780.5m next year, which is significantly important to maintain people’s living standards and stabilise costs amid global fluctuations,” he said.
“The social protection sector is also strong with pensioners’ allowance of BD596m, divided equally for both years.
“There is also the Citizens Account with BD312.6m this year and BD311.6m in the next.”
Mr Al Salloom stressed the need to achieve citizens’ aspirations and said huge efforts have been made to get the budget in the current format.
“The challenges are there and will continue, but citizens deserve to be at the forefront of development and empowerment,” he said.
Shura Council financial and economic affairs committee chairman Khalid Al Maskati said the budget strikes a balance between economic growth and creating promising opportunities for citizens.
“Financial and economic sustainability, balanced revenues and spending and elevating vital sectors, while maintaining public interest is a strategic approach this budget has been based on,” he said.
“There were huge efforts from all involved to achieve positive measures and this budget is a reflection of the best.”
If approved today, an extraordinary session for a vote will be held at the Shura Council on Thursday.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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