Housing Minister participates in 2025 Innovation Summit on Social Housing
Manama, Apr. 23 (BNA): Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, participated in the opening session of the Innovation Summit in the Social Housing Sector 2025, held under the theme "Global Perspectives on Innovation in Social Housing."
The Minister highlighted Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of housing services, noting the importance of strengthening public-private cooperation to support housing and social service provision. She underlined the challenges facing the housing sector and emphasised the capacity of Bahraini society, particularly youth, to overcome them.
Al Rumaihi called for prompt and suitable housing solutions to support families early in life and emphasised the need for regular programme reviews and the adoption of successful international models.
Basem bin Yaqoub Al Hamer, President of the Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB), highlighted Bahrain’s longstanding role in housing innovation, noting the 1965 establishment of the Housing and Ownership Department and Royal Decree (10) as a catalyst for sector development. He noted Isa Town as an example of integrated urban planning and highlighted Bahrain’s leadership in public-private partnerships.
Al Hamer underlined the importance of institutional integration, particularly between the SLRB and the Housing Ministry, to support sustainable development goals.
Li Hongzhong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China, participated in the session virtually. He emphasised the role of social financing in supporting housing programmes and noted China’s recent investment of USD 3.8 million in the sector.
Wang Bo, Chairman of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), highlighted the role of technology in housing development. He commended collaborative public-private experiences across Asia and the Middle East and called for greater transparency and coordination to accelerate implementation.
Dr. Ayman El Hefnawi, UN-Habitat Representative in the Gulf Cooperation Council, called for a balanced approach combining international and local strategies. He cited Bahrain’s social housing model, adopted in over ten countries, as a successful example of community development.
Ethan Kent, Executive Director of PlacemakingX (US), delivered a presentation titled "What if We Built Social Homes Around Social Places?", emphasising the need to move from housing construction to the creation of inclusive spaces that support community engagement and social cohesion. He highlighted the value of culturally relevant design in preserving urban identity.
Speakers concluded by noting the achievements of the Housing Ministry and the SLRB in accelerating real estate transactions through streamlined processes and digital transformation. Plans are in place to issue electronic documentation by the end of the year.
They underlined the importance of institutional coordination, private sector engagement, and the Housing Bank’s role in enabling access to finance, as key enablers of housing development in the Kingdom.
