A proposal to establish a national building information platform to centralise all related data across Bahrain has been approved.
The initiative will support smart cities, urban planning real estate transparency, according to Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah who spearheaded the move.
The suggestion was unanimously approved by the board and has now been referred to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak, for a formal review and possible phased implementation.
Currently, the data about buildings is distributed among the Benayat building permit platform, the Geographic Explorer and various systems used by engineering offices, developers and municipal authorities.
Mr Tarradah said the new platform will securely gather and manage data such as building size, ownership, energy use, maintenance history, among others.
“It will transform how we plan, regulate and invest in our built environment,” he added.
“This will lead to smarter urban planning, greater transparency and more efficient public services.”
The proposed platform will serve as a comprehensive digital registry covering all types of buildings – residential, commercial, industrial and service-oriented. Its goals include:
- Enhancing urban planning and policy-making through real-time data access for decision-makers.
- Accelerating service delivery such as building permits, inspections and utility connections.
- Boosting transparency and trust in real estate markets by clearly recording ownership, usage and compliance.
- Facilitating investments in housing and infrastructure by providing accessible, accurate building data.
- Supporting smart cities initiatives by integrating geospatial, environmental and utility data.
Each building will be assigned a Unique Building Identifier (UBID) and will be digitally profiled with a wide range of data, including identification and location (GIS co-ordinates, building number, property number); structural and engineering details (construction year, materials, floor count); utilities and infrastructure (electricity, water, telecom, sanitation); ownership and management information; environmental performance indicators such as energy consumption and insulation; and safety systems and inspection records.
“This will reduce red tape for citizens and investors alike,” said board vice-chairwoman Khulood Al Qattan.
“Imagine being able to view all the necessary information about a building – its safety, condition, licences, even the energy systems – in one secure location. That’s what this platform will offer.”
The proposal draws inspiration from global examples of national building databases, including Saudi Balady platform and Shumous occupancy database; Dubai’s Makani system, which geolocates every building and links to safety data; Singapore’s OneMap and BCA databases for construction and building information; Finland’s Kadaster and the US Building Footprints Dataset, used for planning, taxation, and disaster risk; Germany’s ALKIS and Estonia’s e-Construction platform, both integrated with national registries.
“By consolidating Bahrain’s building data, the platform will position the kingdom as a regional leader in smart real estate and urban development systems,” added Ms Al Qattan.
“The platform represents a transformative vision for how urban and real estate development will be managed in future.”
The proposal is expected to undergo technical and policy evaluation before phased implementation. The system may be launched initially in selected areas or for specific building types, followed by broader roll-out.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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