Bahrain Cabinet Praises UAE Ties, Approves Key Development Initiatives in Weekly Meeting

Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting today at Al Qudaibiya Palace, where ministers discussed regional diplomacy, local development efforts, and reviewed updates on national programs.

The meeting began by commending the recent visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Cabinet highlighted the strong brotherly ties between the two nations and emphasized mutual efforts to strengthen cooperation for the benefit of both countries’ growth and prosperity.

The Cabinet also extended warm congratulations to the UAE leadership and people as they prepare to celebrate “Union Accord Day,” commemorating the historic signing of the UAE’s unification agreement in 1971. The ministers praised the UAE’s journey of progress across multiple sectors.

Turning to domestic affairs, the Cabinet applauded the smooth and organized observance of the Ashura season, crediting the Interior Ministry, Jaafari Endowments Council, religious leaders, heads of ma’atams (religious centers), volunteers, and community members for ensuring respectful and secure commemorations in line with the directives of His Majesty the King.

Key Approvals and Reports:

The Cabinet approved several important proposals and reports during the session:

1. Priority Government Programs (4th Edition): The Coordination Committee’s update on high-priority government programs was approved, reflecting ongoing efforts to streamline public services.

2. New Building Law: A draft law on building regulations was reviewed and supported by the Cabinet, as presented by the Ministerial Committee for Legal and Legislative Affairs.

3. Labour Market Indicators (Q2 2025): Notable achievements were shared regarding employment goals:

   • 49% progress toward the goal of employing 25,000 Bahrainis annually

   • 51% of the annual goal for integrating 8,000 new entrants into the labor market

   • 63% of the annual training goal met, with 15,000 Bahrainis set for upskilling

   The Cabinet praised Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s initiative to launch new training programs for 750 healthcare workers in collaboration with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and the Supreme Council of Health.

4. Education Quality Reports: Approval was granted for recent reports by the Education & Training Quality Authority.

5. Tourism Development: The Cabinet reviewed progress on the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre, a flagship project for the Kingdom’s tourism sector.

6. Parliamentary Proposals: The Cabinet responded to seven recommendations from the Council of Representatives and a draft law proposed by the Shura Council.

Municipal Affairs:

Two key reports from the Ministry of Municipalities and Agriculture were reviewed:

• An update on decisions and contributions of the Capital Secretariat and municipal councils from December 2022 to June 2025, recognizing their developmental efforts.

• A report on building permits issued in the first half of 2025.

Other Briefings:

The Cabinet also reviewed several ministerial reports, including:

• Outcomes of the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications' official visit to Saudi Arabia

• Participation results from the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development

• Insights from the Arab regional high-level meeting in preparation for the second World Summit on Social Development

The meeting closed with appreciation for the collaborative spirit driving national progress across governance, infrastructure, labor, and regional diplomacy.