Parliament to debate ‘oldestfirst’ housing allocations

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A proposal to prioritise housing allocations based on application date goes before Parliament on Tuesday, as MPs consider moving away from entitlement-certificate dates and regional rules.

The motion, tabled by MP Zainab AbdulAmeer, would rank applicants according to the day each request was filed across all active projects. Supporters say this approach prevents newer applications from jumping the queue and eliminates uneven outcomes caused by area-based rules.

The proposal cites Articles 4 and 9(f ) of the Constitution, highlighting a fairness standard for low-income housing.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning says the current rules already prioritise filing date for ownership grants. Ministerial Decision 909 of 2015, in Article 79, allows the ministry to consider, on a caseby-case basis, factors such as the applicant and spouse’s family location, past and current addresses, project site, applicant preferences, and any special circumstances deemed relevant by the minister.

Article 81 permits faster allocation after consultation with the Housing Committee in defined cases, including family size, household finances, health, living conditions, filing date, home location, and other special factors.

On this basis, the ministry says the motion’s goal is already in practice, with seniority as the baseline and other criteria applied only when necessary. The Public Utilities and Environment Committee has reviewed the proposal and unanimously recommended its approval.