Bahrain Drives Gulf Urban Sustainability

Bahrain hosted the 29th meeting of GCC ministers responsible for municipal affairs, bringing together ministers and senior officials from the six member states to discuss priorities for developing municipal services and urban environments.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Engineer Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, as part of Bahrain’s presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council. GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi also attended.

Welcoming the participating ministers, Al Mubarak highlighted Bahrain’s focus on strengthening municipal services and supporting sustainable urban development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the direction of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

He said greater coordination and the exchange of expertise among GCC countries would help improve municipal services, strengthen integration and enable cities to respond more effectively to future challenges.

The minister also stressed the importance of developing municipal legislation and oversight mechanisms, while preparing guidelines covering successful regulations and practices. Continued sharing of successful experiences among GCC countries was also highlighted.

Bahrain’s contribution to joint Gulf municipal initiatives was also discussed, including the GCC Green Requirements Guide and the GCC Building Regulations Guide. The initiatives support the objectives of the Joint Gulf Municipal Action Plan and efforts to promote sustainability and improve the urban environment.

The meeting’s agenda included urban environment development, the GCC Building Code, municipal legislation and oversight, strategic urban planning, and the Joint Gulf Municipal Action Plan for 2024-2030.

Ministers also discussed smart city initiatives, municipal sustainability and ways to expand the exchange of expertise and successful experiences among member states.

A number of decisions and recommendations were approved during the meeting for submission to the GCC Supreme Council. Ministers also reviewed joint initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation and further developing municipal work across the Gulf.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Al Mubarak and Albudaiwi honoured the winners of the top five positions in the sixth GCC Municipalities Award for 2025-2026, recognising their contributions to municipal development and innovative practices.