Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi participated in the opening session of the Innovation Summit in the Social Housing Sector 2025, held under the theme “Global Perspectives on Innovation in Social Housing.”
The minister highlighted Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of housing services, noting the importance of strengthening public-private co-operation to support housing and social service provision. She underlined the challenges facing the housing sector and emphasised the capacity of Bahraini society, particularly youth, to overcome them.
Ms Al Romaihi called for prompt and suitable housing solutions to support families early in life and emphasised the need for regular programme reviews and the adoption of successful international models.
Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB) president Basem Al Hamer highlighted Bahrain’s longstanding role in housing innovation, noting the 1965 establishment of the Housing and Ownership Department and Royal Decree (10) as a catalyst for sector development.
He noted Isa Town as an example of integrated urban planning and highlighted Bahrain’s leadership in public-private partnerships.
Mr Al Hamer underlined the importance of institutional integration, particularly between the SLRB and the Housing Ministry, to support sustainable development goals.
China’s Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Li Hongzhong participated in the session virtually. He emphasised the role of social financing in supporting housing programmes and noted China’s recent investment of $3.8 million in the sector.
China Machinery Engineering Corporation chairman Wang Bo highlighted the role of technology in housing development. He commended collaborative public-private experiences across Asia and the Middle East and called for greater transparency and co-ordination to accelerate implementation.
UN-Habitat representative in the GCC Dr Ayman El Hefnawi called for a balanced approach combining international and local strategies. He cited Bahrain’s social housing model, adopted in more than 10 countries, as a successful example of community development.
PlacemakingX (US) executive director Ethan Kent delivered a presentation titled “What if We Built Social Homes Around Social Places?”, emphasising the need to move from housing construction to the creation of inclusive spaces that support community engagement and social cohesion. He highlighted the value of culturally relevant design in preserving urban identity.
Speakers concluded by noting the achievements of the Housing Ministry and the SLRB in accelerating real estate transactions through streamlined processes and digital transformation. Plans are in place to issue electronic documentation by the end of the year.
They underlined the importance of institutional co-ordination, private sector engagement, and the Housing Bank’s role in enabling access to finance, as key enablers of housing development in the kingdom.
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