Financial support for fuel, electricity, and other essentials will be paid directly to citizens

TDT | Manama

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The planned “Citizen Account” is set to switch to direct cash payments for fuel, electricity, and other essentials, replacing scattered subsidies with a single system.

The move, aimed at making support more direct and structured, was central to a meeting yesterday between government ministers and lawmakers as they went through plans for the 2025-2026 budget.

Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam, Shura Council Chairman Ali Al Saleh, and Finance Minister His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa led the discussions, with ministers and members of both chambers weighing how to shape the system so it reaches those who need it most.

Al Musallam described the cooperation between Parliament and the government as a joint effort to steady the economy and improve people’s lives.

He pointed to economic growth, steady finances, and better public services as key aims.

Shaikh Salman said more money would go into housing, schools, hospitals, and roads while also making sure public funds were used more effectively.

He welcomed Parliament’s input, saying the budget was built around long-term plans for growth and stability.

Al Saleh praised the government’s breakdown of spending and said the Council would draw on economic expertise to examine the budget in detail.

The meeting also looked at social care, with plans to open 19 new support centres across Bahrain.

Lawmakers and ministers went through proposals to tighten subsidy rules, ensuring aid is fairly distributed based on income and needs.

Parliament’s Financial and Economic Affairs Committee will now go over the budget before final discussions take place in Parliament.