Manama: Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, announced four new housing programmes aimed at accelerating project implementation and expanding affordable housing options in partnership with the private sector. The announcement was made during the opening of the Innovation Summit in the Social Housing Sector, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, from April 23-25.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the new programmes support the royal directive to provide 50,000 housing units. The minister introduced the Tamooh (Ambitions) programme, which offers eligible beneficiaries of the "Tas'heel" and "Tas'heel +" financing schemes an additional BHD 20,000 ten years after receiving their main housing loan, allowing for future housing upgrades. She also launched the "Off plan Sales" programme, which allows developers to begin selling housing units before construction is completed, enabling citizens to reserve units early and secure financing in advance. This model is being applied to the "Hai Al Naseem" project in Salman City and the "Al Wadi" project in Buhair, both now open for reservations.
The "Private Land Development Rights" programme was also announced, enabling private developers to build housing projects on their own land for citizens benefiting from housing finance, with government support provided for project facilitation and marketing. In addition, the ministry unveiled the second version of the "Bayti" platform, now featuring online reservation and contract signing, integrated with the upgraded eKey system and a digital financing calculator.
The minister confirmed a memorandum of understanding with local and international companies, including Naseej, CMEC, Ritaj, Almoayyed, and WCT Berhad, to construct nearly 3,000 units in Khalifa City, marking the largest development under the government land programme to date.
She also announced the start of applications for the new "Tas'heel +" financing option, which provides up to BHD 91,000 for eligible citizens, with flexible repayment terms tailored to income levels. For more information on the new programmes and available housing options, citizens can visit the ministry's pavilion at the exhibition, which runs until April 25.