Over 25,000 public housing units built in past four years

More than 25,000 government housing units were built in Bahrain in the past four years, it was revealed. A recent report published by the Ministry of Housing showed that 26,400 houses were built, exceeding its commitment to build 25,000 homes as part of the four-year Government Action Plan. The report revealed that the total cost of building 26,400 housing units amounted to BD1.404 billion.

Over 17,000 families have been awarded the houses so far, with 9,573 having moved in and 8,013 being handed over papers. A further 40,000 housing units could be built by 2022, the report said. The Housing Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Housing Policies and Services Dr Khalid Abdulrahman Al Hidan said the ministry continued to receive new beneficiaries of Ramli housing units.

The move follows the order of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to deliver 5,000 housing units, which were ordered at the government forum recently. Mr Al Hidan said distribution procedures of Ramli district housing units took place smoothly and without delay. He added that the project is considered as one of the main ventures included in the government’s work programme.

He pointed out the Housing Ministry’s commitment to build 25,000 housing units (2015- 2018), in line with the government’ work programme emanating from the royal directives to build 40,000 housing units. A Cabinet session chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on December 24 reviewed the main developmental projects being implemented in the Kingdom.

While reviewing the programmes and projects implemented across the kingdom’s villages and towns to provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure, HRH the Premier gave instructions to implement plans to build 1,200 housing units in Dar Kulaib and Hoorat Sanad. A report published in Tribune in May 2018 revealed that many Bahrainis have been waiting many decades to receive their housing units.

“In October 1993, I submitted my housing application for my dream house. Fed up with waiting, I took a temporary apartment in 2002. I have been living in the temporary abode since then. “The matter was followed up by the ministry. I even met the Undersecretary who told me that I will get my house in Tubli. My neighbour was on the waiting list too. He was given a house in Nabih Saleh. All the people around me got their houses but I didn’t,” citizen Adel told Tribune in May last year.