Housing waitlist drops 13.5% as thousands take up new financing

TDT | Manama

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A 13.5 per cent drop in Bahrain’s housing waitlist has eased the backlog, with thousands taking up new financing options instead of waiting for state-built homes.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning said the number of ownership service requests had fallen to around 47,600, down from more than 55,000 before these schemes were introduced in 2022.

The shift has been driven by a broader range of choices, including public-private housing partnerships and financing schemes allowing buyers to secure homes without delay.

At present, 1,295 applications for residential plots remain on the waiting list, along with 1,697 requests for ownership apartments.

Allowances

Meanwhile, about 33,900 applicants are receiving housing allowances.

The ministry said the shift was partly due to a rise in takeup of financing options, which provide homeownership without waiting periods.

Another factor has been the allocation of new apartments in Madinat Salman, where housing schemes have absorbed hundreds of requests.

Applicants

Some of the longest-waiting applicants, dating back to 2004, have also received homes through alternative schemes.

To widen access to housing, the ministry pointed to the introduction of ‘Tas’heel’ and ‘New Mazaya’, which have proven popular since their launch in 2022.

More than 80 per cent of those using these financing options had been on the waiting list for government-provided housing.