The Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA) has signed a contract with international consultancy firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) to develop the Bahrain National Strategic Structure Plan 2050.
The contract was signed on the sidelines of the Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition 2026 by UPDA chief executive officer Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Khayyatand SOM representative Thomas Behr in the presence of Douglas Voigt, representing the consultancy firm.
Al Khayyat said the agreement forms part of efforts to prepare the National Strategic Structure Plan 2050, supporting Bahrain’s urban planning and development framework and addressing the kingdom’s current and future development and urban needs.
He noted that the project marks an important step in updating the National Strategic Structure Plan 2030, drawing on specialised planning expertise and practices to develop an integrated urban vision that addresses diverse development requirements, enhances spatial planning efficiency and promotes the optimal use of land.
Al Khayyat affirmed that the authority continues to develop Bahrain’s planning framework based on integrated and sustainable principles, improving the urban environment, supporting development across the kingdom and keeping pace with changing and future needs.
SOM expressed its pride in partnering with the authority on the project and its commitment to applying its specialised expertise in urban planning and development to help achieve the project’s objectives.
The signing highlights the importance of integrating urban planning with modern approaches to city and community development.
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