‘Swift service for investment permits’

Manama : The Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning is toying with the idea of introducing a speedy service for the issuance of optional investment permits through the comprehensive municipal centre. 

“The move is part of the ministry’s plan to facilitate procedures for investors to promote investment in the real estate sector,” informed Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Essam Khalaf here yesterday.

According to the Minister, the new service ensures the issuance of the permit not exceeding a period of 10 days from the submission of the investor’s application. 

The municipal centre designates an architect from the centre to work with project consultants and relevant service providers to ensure that plans are met. The service also ensures that all documents submitted to all municipal and service requirements in the stages of planning and design of the project meet necessary requirements to take advantage of this service. And thereby, shortening the time it takes to edit engineering drawings because of the observations made by service providers at the stage of applying for a permit. Khalaf said the ministry had issued 777 building and investment projects from January to mid September 2016 in the various governorates with the cost of construction exceeding at BD1.3 billion and building area of more than 4,800,000 square meters.

He pointed out that the municipal centre with its advance procedures and coordination of engineering offices reduces the time and effort required to get building permits. 

“The ongoing development of procedures for the issuance of building permits enhances the country’s efforts to attract investment in all areas of urban development,” the Minister added.