Housing backlog hits 756 in South, some dating back 23 years

TDT | Manama

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Pending housing applications in the Second Constituency of the Southern Governorate have reached 756, with some cases dating back to 2002, MP Dr Maryam Al Dhaen has been told.

In its response, the Housing Ministry said the constituency had 688 requests for housing units, 25 for residential plots and 43 for ownership apartments, all filed between 2002 and 2025. There are no pending applications predating 2000. Since the start of the current legislative term, 232 housing services have been granted to residents of the constituency.

Dr Al Dhaen had sought a full breakdown of applications from 2000 to 2025, clarification on older unresolved files, and details of current and upcoming projects—including nearby schemes—that will serve her constituency.

The ministry linked its plans to the Government Programme 2023–2026, saying it is broadening housing options and expanding cooperation with private developers to speed up service delivery. It highlighted financing initiatives such as Tas’heel and Tas’heel+, which have processed thousands of requests since 2022, and the Tumooh scheme, which offers eligible beneficiaries an additional subsidised loan of BD20,000 a decade after purchasing an apartment to help them upgrade to a larger home.

The ministry also cited partnerships under the Government Land Development Rights Programme, including the Suhail project in Al Louzi—meeting 132 applications—and Hai Al Naseem in Madinat Salman, expected to cover 131 more, as well as the Al Wadi project in Buhair, now under off-plan reservation.

In Madinat Salman, new apartment buildings containing 1,362 ownership flats have been opened, with a second phase adding 432 units under way, alongside three contracted projects offering 138 additional units. In Madinat Khalifa, tendering is being prepared for a major development of more than 3,000 housing units, and a separate project is already under way to provide 372 homes for the Southern Governorate.

The ministry added that work continues in Al Hidd Housing City, Madinat Salman, Khalifa City and Sitra Housing City under the 2025– 2026 budget. In Sitra, 1,077 units have been delivered, a second phase of 531 units is nearing completion, and a third phase of 1,269 units is being built, with handovers scheduled for this year and next. Residential plots have also been allocated followi n g t h e completion of infrastructure works.