King Hamad orders swift completion of kingdom’s housing projects

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa today received His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister and His Excellency Bassim Bin Yacob Al Hamer, the Minister of Housing, at Sakhir Palace, to review plans aimed at expediting the completion of housing projects in the Kingdom.
During the meeting, His Majesty ordered the swift delivery of completed housing units as part of the project to provide 40,000 housing units to eligible applicants. He also directed that both units under development, and prospective units be allocated.
His Majesty ordered the completion of housing projects in the Kingdom in order to satisfy the housing requirements of all Bahraini families, and stressed on the importance of aligning housing projects with the Bahrain’s distinctive architectural characteristics. His Majesty added that Bahrain's citizens are integral to the Kingdom's programme of development, and that addressing their needs remains a top priority.
His Majesty further highlighted that the Kingdom's development programme recognises that providing housing plays an essential role in ensuring social stability. His Majesty further emphasised the Kingdom’s firm commitment to continually improving the quality of life for all Bahrainis.
His Majesty went on to outline the framework under which essential housing and infrastructure projects are being developed, stressing that providing housing throughout the Kingdom efficiently and promptly remains a key priority. In this regard, His Majesty emphasised that the Kingdom will continue to accelerate development across a range of sectors to address the needs of all Bahrainis.
During the meeting, His Excellency Al Hamer delivered a presentation to His Majesty illustrating the current phase of housing developments in the Northern Governorate (Al Madina Al Shamaliya), which are being funded by both the government and through the GCC Development Programme. The presentation also outlined 108,576 housing services totalling BHD 3.3 billion, which have been provided to eligible applicants since the launch of the Kingdom’s master housing plan (1961 – 2014).
The presentation also reviewed key milestones to date, in addition to future plans, which include housing complexes and developments currently under way. Under His Majesty's directives, these developments will lead to the swift completion of 40,000 housing units. In addition, the presentation covered previous housing allocations and services that have been developed since 2012.
His Majesty also reviewed additional programmes designed to provide social housing, loans and areas of land for applicants who are not eligible for housing units. His Majesty was also presented with an outline of the current phase of new city developments across the Kingdom, which form a significant part of the 40,000 housing unit project.
Following the presentation, His Majesty extended his thanks to the government for its significant efforts under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, as well as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s efforts in following up on the completion of essential housing and infrastructure projects which serve to further improve the quality of life for all. His Majesty went on to underline the role of such projects in supporting the Kingdom's programme of sustainable growth and development. His Majesty also recognised the Ministry of Housing for its work to complete essential housing and infrastructure projects.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince highlighted His Majesty's commitment to satisfying the Kingdom’s housing requirements, adding that His Majesty's directives to allocate approximately 50% of the budget under the GCC Development Programme will help expedite the completion of housing projects across the Kingdom.
His Royal Highness reiterated that housing development remains a key priority in the Kingdom, in line with His Majesty's directives to secure the stability and security of all Bahrainis.
His Excellency Al Hamar expressed his pleasure in the opportunity to meet with His Majesty, and highlighted that His Majesty's review of the current phase of housing development serves to further boost the Ministry's commitment to satisfying housing requirements, a key priority of the Kingdom's development programme. His Excellency went on to highlight that as part of the project to provide 40,000 housing units the Ministry is currently preparing to allocate 5280 units within the next couple weeks, and noted that the Ministry had recently handed over a total of 3038housing units.
The minister extended deepest thanks to HM the King, marking the promulgation of the Royal Order on fast-tracking the pace of work on housing projects which are intended to cater to eligible citizens.
He also cited the Royal Order regarding the distribution and allocation of housing units to eligible applicants, whether in the completed projects, the ones under construction or the planned schemes to meet demands under the strategy which aims at constructing 40,000 units within the coming few years.
Mr. Al-Hamer stressed the ministry's resolve to spare no effort to carry out the royal directives. He pointed out that the ministry would draw up a comprehensive plan for the scheduled 40,000 units to be constructed in line with the fast allocation and distribution of these projects on citizens.
He revealed that the ministry had already started, as per the royal directives, allocating and distributing a new batch of housing projects which are nearing completion as part of festivities marking the National Day and His Majesty's Accession Day.
The minister paid tribute to HM the King for supporting and following up social housing projects, describing the royal care as a major catalyst which yielded a housing boom ever since work on the housing strategy started early 2012.
He hailed the royal directives, describing them as a catalyst which motivates the ministry to achieve the vision of the wise leadership and provide decent social housing for needy people, in line with the constitutional commitments which stipulate the duties of the ministry.
Mr. Al-Hamer hailed the strides and landmark achievements during the prosperous era of HM the King, regarding the housing issue in particular. He lauded HM the King's reform-oriented vision and his keen interest on ensuring citizens the means of decent living. "The royal vision heralded an ambitious plan which is aimed at diversifying housing alternatives for citizens and fast-tracking work to provide social housing for applicants", he said.
He described the royal order on the speedy construction of 40,000 units as a major boost to ensure citizens' well-being and decent living, a long-standing priority for the wise leadership and the Government since the 1960s.