Private sector to build 8,000 houses as Bahrain cuts waiting list

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain’s housing policies will keep shifting to match demand, with rules on who qualifies and how homes are paid for regularly reviewed, the Housing Minister, Her Excellency Amna Al Rumaihi, told Parliament yesterday.

Private developers are playing a growing role in the government’s efforts to cut waiting times, with nearly 8,000 homes planned under joint schemes.

Around 3,700 will be available to buy, while more than 4,000 will be built through agreements with private firms under the “Government Land Development Programme”.

“We are working closely with private developers, who bring the know-how and resources to help meet the growing need for housing,” Al Rumaihi said. “This approach means we can provide homes more quickly and give people more choice.”

The backlog of applications has fallen by more than 17 per cent over two years, dropping from 55,000 in early 2022 to 27,000 today.

The number of new requests continues to climb, but the figures show movement. “We are making headway, and the work goes on to cut the numbers further while handling fresh applications,” she said.

A BD800 million housing budget has been set for the next two years, the largest to date.

Building work is progressing in Salman Town, Khalifa Town, Al Ramli, and Al Hidd, with extra funds lined up for further expansion.

The ministry has also put more focus on giving people housing choices that suit their needs.

More than 8,000 families have taken up immediate housing options since 2022, with over 8 per cent coming from the waiting list.

“We are making it simpler for people to choose the kind of home they want, where they want it, and what size suits them,” Al Rumaihi said.