The launch of housing finance programmes has had a significant impact with the waiting list for social homes dropping from 55,000 in 2022 to 47,600 this year, it has been revealed.
Housing Minister Amna Al Romaihi said pending applications include 1,295 requests for land plots and 1,697 for apartments, while around 33,900 are receiving housing allowances.
She was responding, in writing, to questions by MPs Abdulwahid Qarata, Khalid Bu Onk, Mahdi Al Shuwaikh and Mohammed Al Ahmed.
Ms Al Romaihi attributed the dip in waiting list to a range of initiatives, including diversification of housing options, particularly through public-private partnerships.
“The ministry has begun delivering housing solutions to beneficiaries whose applications date back to 2004,” she pointed out.
“Our finance programmes have provided citizens with immediate access to suitable housing, eliminating long waiting periods,” she added.
“Since their launch in 2022, these programmes have gained significant popularity, with 80 per cent of beneficiaries transferring their applications from the traditional housing waitlist to financing schemes.”
Ms Al Romaihi explained that the ministry has allocated
budget to process more than 6,000 financing requests throughout 2025, under the Tas’heel and Mazaya New Category schemes.
“In line with the government’s long-term housing strategy, the ministry is currently implementing four housing projects in Salman Town, in Northern Governorate, in collaboration with the private sector,” she said.
“Additionally, two projects are underway in the Southern Governorate, in Buhair and Howrat Sanad. We are expanding our efforts to introduce more projects.”
The minister affirmed that the ministry was in the process of preparing a new tender to develop projects in Khalifa Town, which will provide 3,000 housing units and apartments.
Regarding large-scale government housing projects, the minister confirmed that developments in Salman Town, East Sitra Housing Town, East Hidd Housing Town and Khalifa Town were progressing according to the allocated budgets.
As part of a royal directive by His Majesty King Hamad to preserve Bahrain’s historical and cultural identity, the ministry is also advancing housing projects in Muharraq, in conjunction with the restoration of Isa Al Kabeer Palace and the city’s overall redevelopment.
“The first phase of this ambitious project will include the construction and renovation of around 300 housing units, with the total capacity reaching approximately 2,000 units in future,” she said.
“This will be achieved in collaboration with the private sector. The ministry’s initiatives reflect Bahrain’s commitment to sustainable urban development, ensuring that citizens have access to modern, high-quality housing while maintaining the nation’s cultural heritage.”
Ms Al Romaihi added that the government was shouldering the cost of most of the housing services.
“For example, a home costs us BD129,000 in the East Sitra Housing Town, with us shouldering BD87,000 and the beneficiary paying BD42,000, with instalments not exceeding 25pc of the monthly wage for 30 years, which is 67pc of the cost,” she said.
“The government is spending millions of dinars to get housing projects moving forward and huge financing is also being sought.”
The GDN reported that the government was planning to spend BD800 million in 2025-2026 on social housing services.
As for the Nakheel District announced in 2022, which would cover an area of 123.6 hectares, stretching from the southern part of Budaiya Highway to the northern coastal highway, Ms Al Romaihi said no housing projects have been planned there.
“It is a private investment property and we don’t have any lands in it for social housing projects,” she said.
“However, a 3.9km public coast with recreational and sporting facilities will be provided by developers and a water channel is in the study phase to separate lands set for reclamation from the current northern seafront shore.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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