The government has put in place comprehensive plans to clear decades-old housing applications, expand immediate finance options and deliver on the Royal directive to provide 50,000 new housing units for citizens.
Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi detailed eligibility criteria for services, explained common reasons for application rejections and outlined how citizens can track their housing status online.
She also highlighted efforts to accelerate delivery through partnerships with private developers and the introduction of new financing tracks aimed at increasing choice and reducing waiting times.
Ms Al Romaihi made the remarks while responding to questions from Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk and services committee vice-chairman MP Abdulwahid Qarata.
“Our work today is guided by two priorities: resolving older applications fairly and opening faster, more flexible paths for families to obtain suitable housing immediately,” Ms Al Romaihi said.
Under Housing Resolution No 9 of 2015, applicants fall into four core family categories – primarily couples with children, single parents with Bahraini children, unmarried adult sons living with parents, and certain adult dependants living with relatives.
Applications are rejected mainly for clear regulatory reasons, the minister said, including:
- Failure to meet permanent residency requirements
- A family member owning a residential property
- Change in housing demand or ineligibility under category rules
“Transparency is essential. Applicants are informed of the reason for rejection and may reapply within two years in accordance with regulations,” she noted.
Citizens can also track their application status through the eGovernment portal and the ministry’s website, receiving SMS updates at each stage.
Special attention is given to Category Five, designed for divorced, widowed, abandoned or single Bahraini women without children, or those facing family disputes.
The ministry has expanded eligibility, raised the income ceiling, widened the age range, and set instalments at 25 per cent of income, with temporary housing allocated following Housing Committee review. An online application service for this category has been active since 2020 to simplify access and improve follow-up.
For long-pending files dating back to 2004 and earlier, the ministry has implemented three options under directives from His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister:
- Al Asr programme – BD40,000 high-quality housing solution for two years from eligibility.
- Housing with a financial maintenance grant in participating areas.
- Maximum benefit from Al Sabeel Housing Finance Programme worth up to BD100,000
“The second and third options have already been allocated to all eligible applicants. The first option is being distributed on the basis of seniority after infrastructure readiness,” she said.
Following the Royal directive of His Majesty King Hamad to accelerate housing, the Cabinet approved a plan built on three tracks – Traditional ownership (units, apartments, plots) by seniority, immediate access through Tas’heel and housing finance programmes, and expanding supply via government and private land development rights.
A budget of BD800 million – the largest in Bahrain’s housing history – has been allocated for 2025–2026 to fund delivery.
Among the flagship schemes are:
* More than 3,000 units in Khalifa Town under the Government Land Development Rights Programme
* Allocation of units in Al Luzi (132 homes) and Al Naseem in Salman Town (191 homes)
* Off-plan reservations at Danat Sanad and Al Wadi projects via the Bayati real estate platform
* New agreements with developers in Askar for 137 units
* Ongoing phases delivering apartments and ownership units across governorates
“These partnerships allow us to increase inventory quickly while keeping prices aligned with the value of housing finance provided to citizens,” Ms Al Romaihi said.
Engineering teams are preparing tenders under the current budget while lining up projects for 2027–2028. Contracts include strict quality standards and penalty clauses for delays. Only top-tier classified contractors are engaged.
Close co-ordination is underway with the Works Ministry, municipalities and utilities to ensure roads, electricity, water and community services are delivered alongside housing.
“Periodic progress reports are submitted to senior management to ensure timelines, standards and accountability are met,” the minister added.
While traditional waiting lists continue to be served by seniority, finance programmes and development rights projects offer immediate options without waiting periods.
“Our objective is balanced development across all governorates while giving families real choices in location, size and type of home,” Ms Al Romaihi said.
The minister is set to appear during Tuesday’s weekly Parliament session to respond to further queries the MPs may have.
She is also set to respond to two other questions on housing projects in the Muharraq Governorate by MP Hamad Al Doy and another by MP Mohammed Al Olaiwi on waiting lists in the Muharraq Governorate constituency three (Bahrain International Airport area).
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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