Bahrain keen to strengthen regional housing collaboration and innovation

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Her Excellency Amna bint Ahmed Al Romaihi, spearheaded Bahrain’s delegation at the 22nd GCC Housing Ministers Meeting in Doha, Qatar, playing a crucial role in formulating key decisions for the region’s housing sector.

The meeting ratified several vital initiatives, including the Joint Gulf Housing Plan 2024–2030, a comprehensive strategy designed to fortify the social housing sector across GCC nations.

In addition, the Sustainability Guide for Housing, the Guide to Modern Building Technologies, the Real Estate Stimulus Guide, and the Guide to Evaluating Cities’ Resilience were all approved, setting the stage for a more sustainable and robust future for GCC housing.

A notable outcome of the meeting was the creation of a financial framework to foster partnerships with private entities, catalysing investment in the real estate sector and opening new pathways for growth.

The discussions also revolved around progress in housing information regulations, the formulation of unified statutes for property owners, the planning of the Gulf Housing Week, and the forthcoming third Gulf Housing Conference in Kuwait, centred on the theme of “Applications and Technologies.”

Minister Al Rumaihi’s involvement extended beyond the assembly as she toured the Gulf Housing Exhibition during Gulf Housing Week.

The Bahraini exhibition showcased the cutting-edge “Bayti” real-estate platform, the government’s land development rights programme, and a broad spectrum of housing finance options.

Her Excellency reaffirmed Bahrain’s pledge to the Joint Gulf Housing Action Plan for 2024–2030, underscoring its significance in boosting the social housing sector through strategic collaboration.

She praised the Action Plan as a reflection of the GCC’s united determination to realise shared housing objectives.

Housing services

Minister Al Rumaihi also showcased Bahrain’s proactive stance in delivering housing services to its citizens, utilising its extensive housing finance programmes.

She vowed to share Bahrain’s wealth of expertise and established practices to enrich the Gulf ’s joint housing initiatives, including its effective strategies in urban planning, housing project management, sustainability commitments, and the integration of the private sector.

Bahrain’s proactive engagement in the GCC Housing Ministers Meeting and its dedication to regional cooperation position the nation as a frontrunner in defining the future of housing in the region.

The initiatives adopted and the spirit of collaboration exhibited at the assembly laid the groundwork for a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive housing sector throughout the GCC.