MPs want Bahraini newlyweds to get financial aid to meet the rising costs of getting married, setting up a home and paying rent under a parliamentary proposal called the First-Time Marriage Support Programme.
It has been submitted for debate during the upcoming exceptional National Assembly term and also aims to change a ‘loan mentality’ which leaves many couples in a spiral of debt from the start of their lives together.
The proposal, put forward by the Strategic Thinking Bloc, calls for the Social Development Ministry to introduce a dedicated payment service for first-time grooms and brides, providing financial assistance for a limited period to help cover marriage, wedding, rental and furnishing expenses.
Bloc president, Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman and Bahrain Chamber treasurer MP Ahmed Al Salloom, said: “Marriage should be the beginning of a stable family life, not the beginning of a long financial struggle,” Mr Al Salloom said.
He says that many young men are ‘forced to take loans to cover wedding and household costs’ and then spend years repaying them, only to refinance or renew their borrowing when expenses continue to rise as family life takes its toll.
“Many grooms find themselves trapped in a cycle of borrowing. They take a loan to get married, then years later they are forced to renew or restructure it to meet new financial commitments, often at higher interest rates,” he said. “This creates a burden that can follow a young family for many years. We want to look at practical government support that allows young Bahrainis to establish their homes with greater confidence and financial security.”
The proposal has been submitted to Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam, who has referred it to the services committee for examination.
The bloc has deliberately left the income eligibility thresholds, payment levels and duration of assistance open for discussion with the Social Development Ministry, allowing the proposed scheme to be shaped according to available resources and the needs of Bahraini families.
Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman MP Khalid Bu Onk said supporting young families should be regarded as an investment in Bahrain’s social stability.
“We’re not simply talking about financial assistance for a wedding. We are talking about helping young Bahrainis build stable families and reducing the financial pressures that can affect them from the very first day of marriage,” he said.
MP Dr Mariam Al Dhaen said the programme could complement existing social support initiatives by targeting a specific stage when families face particularly heavy expenses.
“The first years of marriage are often the most financially demanding. A carefully-designed programme could provide meaningful support while ensuring that assistance reaches those who genuinely need it,” she said.
MP Bassema Mubarak stressed the importance of making the proposed service accessible and transparent.
“We need a system with clear eligibility criteria, fair payments and simple procedures so that young couples can understand exactly what support is available to them,” she said.
MP Ali Al Dossary said reducing the need for excessive borrowing could have benefits extending well beyond individual households.
“Every young family that begins its life with manageable financial commitments is in a stronger position to contribute to society and the economy,” he said.
The proposal is expected to be placed on the agenda for open debate when the exceptional National Assembly term begins next month, with MPs and the ministry expected to discuss the programme’s scope, funding, eligibility and payment structure.
“If approved, the initiative would give first-time newlyweds a new form of targeted support at one of the most financially demanding milestones in family life,” said Mr Al Dossary.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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