Bahrain’s social housing sector in focus at WUF9

Kuala Lumpur : Housing Minister, Bassim Al-Hamar, yesterday stressed Bahrain’s resolve in implementing programmes aimed at improving living standards in the Kingdom with the private sector playing an active role. 

The Ministry, Al-Hamar said, had started reviewing a housing policy and strategy with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN-HABITAT and the Ministry of Housing.

The project aims to revise Bahrain’s housing policy to develop an effective, efficient and sustainable housing and land sector in line with new economic realities.

The agreement, “Bahrain Housing Policy Revision”, is the first of its kind in Bahrain between two UN agencies and works effectively towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This came as the Minister took part in the ninth World Urban Forum (WUF9) being held in Kuala Lumpur. 

The Housing Minister asserted that the Government of Bahrain has, for six decades, allocated special interest to social housing for low-income citizens, and succeeded in providing housing units for thousands of Bahraini families. 

The kingdom, the Minister said, guided by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives, continues attaining housing gains by building 40,000 units, 25,000 of which will be completed by 2018, and 15,000 in the coming years.