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The proposal, led by MP Dr Muneer Suroor and supported by four other MPs, has been referred to the Cabinet for review following its unanimous approval during the Parliament session yesterday.
The motion urges the government to amend the Buri Detail Plan to allocate land for housing projects that serve villagers, noting that more than 215 housing applications remain pending – some dating back more than 23 years.
Dr Suroor said that while the government’s ambitious plan for Buri includes strategic transport, cultural, agricultural and public service components, it fails to address the most pressing need of local residents.
“We welcome development, the metro project and all modern infrastructure,” he said. “But development that overlooks housing for the people of the area is incomplete.”
He stressed that housing is a fundamental right for citizens and a cornerstone of social stability.
“Buri residents have waited nearly a decade for a housing project,” Dr Suroor said. “The last project was in 2016 and provided just 21 units.”
The Buri Detail Plan covers more than 65 per cent of the village area and includes the main Bahrain Metro station, a national public transport network, an urban and cultural corridor, agricultural and natural zones, and areas designated for public use.
Despite the scale of land acquisition and planning, MPs noted that the project does not include a housing scheme for residents, instead classifying nearby plots as residential land open to investors and buyers.
“This creates a real risk that villagers will be priced out of their own area,” Dr Suroor warned. “If housing is not embedded now in the detailed plan, the opportunity may be lost for generations.”
MPs argued that allocating a housing project within the village would help preserve Buri’s social fabric, identity and history, while ensuring that residents remain active stakeholders in the area’s development.
The proposal also highlights the possibility of partnerships between the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry and the private sector to deliver the housing project efficiently.
Dr Suroor said residents were open to all practical solutions.
“There are old applications and urgent humanitarian cases,” he said. “Addressing the housing issue will ensure the success of the Buri development plan, because the people of Buri are most keen to see their village thrive.”
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