Bahrain Outlines Real Estate Growth Strategy at Riyadh Forum

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Riyadh: Bahrain’s Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, participated in the fifth Real Estate Future Forum in Riyadh, where regional leaders and industry experts convened to discuss emerging trends shaping the real estate sector and future investment opportunities.

Held from January 26 to 28, the forum brought together ministers, senior officials and decision-makers from across the region to examine policy approaches, development strategies and market outlooks in the real estate and housing sectors.

During a high-level panel discussion on market trends and real estate investment opportunities, Minister Al Rumaihi joined housing and urban development officials from Egypt and Syria, offering insights into Bahrain’s housing policies and development priorities.

She emphasised that housing and real estate play a vital role in supporting economic diversification and social stability, aligning with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the Government Programme 2023–2026. The minister highlighted the continued importance of social housing, noting that increased private sector participation has strengthened sector performance and supported growth in related industries such as construction and retail.

Al Rumaihi pointed to the Royal directive to deliver 50,000 housing units as a major turning point in Bahrain’s housing policy, accelerating project delivery through expanded collaboration with developers and financial institutions. She noted ongoing efforts to widen housing finance solutions and increase supply through government- and privately-owned land development initiatives.

According to the minister, Bahrain’s housing and real estate sector has generated more than BD 1.9 billion in economic value in recent years, driven by a strong pipeline of projects and partnerships launched since 2022.

She also outlined measures aimed at boosting market activity and attracting foreign investment, including supportive legislation, incentive-based policies and regulatory frameworks designed to encourage ownership and partnerships. Al Rumaihi highlighted plans to develop major strategic cities under Bahrain’s master plan, which are expected to expand the Kingdom’s urban footprint by over 60 per cent, creating new opportunities for private sector investment.

Concluding her remarks, the minister reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to adopting global best practices in housing and real estate, particularly in sustainability, digital transformation and smart city development. She cited initiatives such as flexible financing programmes, digital platforms including Baity, off-plan sales mechanisms and a transparent legislative environment as key factors positioning Bahrain as a competitive and balanced destination for real estate investment.