Bahrain Reaffirms Arab Cooperation in Housing Development

Bahrain reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Arab cooperation in housing and urban development during the 90th meeting of the Executive Office of the Arab Ministers of Housing and Urban Development, held today at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo.

Her Excellency Amina bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, represented Bahrain at the meeting, accompanied by Her Excellency Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal, Bahraini Ambassador to Egypt and Permanent Representative to the Arab League.

In her keynote address, Minister Al Rumaihi highlighted Bahrain’s dedication to fostering joint Arab initiatives aimed at sustainable and balanced urban development. She commended the efforts of Arab nations in achieving housing objectives and implementing strategies that have significantly enhanced access to adequate housing and sustainable urban growth. She also praised the coordinating role of the Arab League Secretariat in showcasing these achievements on international platforms.

Minister Al Rumaihi emphasized that Bahrain has achieved remarkable progress in social housing, attributing this success to the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, which prioritize providing citizens with suitable housing and a dignified standard of living.

She further outlined ongoing initiatives by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to develop innovative housing policies and expand partnerships with the private sector. These collaborations have facilitated thousands of housing services for Bahraini families, through both traditional urban development projects and private sector-led initiatives under the Government Land Development Rights Program.

During the meeting, the Executive Office discussed strategies to enhance cooperation on housing and urban development projects, improve social housing services, and exchange knowledge and best practices among Arab countries. The discussions also included updates on Bahrain hosting the official website for the Arab Ministers of Housing and Urban Development, designed to serve as a comprehensive database to support the council’s objectives.

Key topics reviewed included the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, and Bahrain’s ongoing collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. The council also congratulated the United Arab Emirates on being elected President of the UN Habitat Assembly for the 2026–2029 term.

Further discussions covered Arab cooperation with regional blocs and foreign nations in housing and urban planning, the execution of the Arab Housing and Urban Development Strategy, the New Urban Agenda, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Plan. The council also highlighted the Arab Ministers’ Housing and Urban Development Award, which recognizes excellence among architects in the region.

Bahrain’s participation underscored its pivotal role in shaping sustainable urban development policies across the Arab world while continuing to prioritize the welfare and housing needs of its citizens.