Building Permits Surge : Reforms drive 4,299 permits in H1

TDT | Manama
Email: editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has recorded a sharp rise in building activity, issuing 4,299 permits during the first half of 2025—
an increase of 31.5% compared to the same period last year—according to His Excellency Wael bin
Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture.

H.E. the minister said the licensed construction area also surged by 57.9% to approximately 1.743
million square metres, reflecting Bahrain’s investor-friendly climate and streamlined government
procedures.

Benayat boosts growth

The growth was driven by continued upgrades to the national building permit platform Benayat, which
has become a central tool for supporting investment, especially in real estate and urban development.

H.E. Al Mubarak said the system’s expansion now includes permits for renovations, fencing, subdivision,
plot merging, change of land use, land reclamation (both land-based and marine), and new building
modifications. He credited the platform for improving transparency and speeding up approvals while
aligning services with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.

Tech-enabled integration

Benayat serves as Bahrain’s unified portal for building permits, offering engineering offices full digital
access to application submission, fee payment, project tracking, and site requirements via an interactive
national map.

The platform is fully integrated with the National Geographic Information System, which features more
than 300 geospatial data layers used by over 30 public and private agencies.

According to the minister, this digital transformation ensures faster approvals, more efficient urban
planning, and better coordination between government bodies, ultimately enhancing investor
experience and service quality.

Ongoing enhancements

The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture continues to enhance Benayat in coordination with
the Information & eGovernment Authority, under the oversight of the Ministerial Committee for
Development Projects and Infrastructure.

H.E. Al Mubarak noted that these efforts are part of a broader strategy to increase efficiency, attract
investment, and support sustainable urban expansion across the Kingdom.