Bahrain’s Minister of Housing Basim bin Yaqoob al-Hamer says the ministry is aiming to increase the participation of the private sector for developing housing for Bahraini citizens

The private sector has been a strategic partner in providing housing services in Bahrain for several years. In 2012, the Housing Ministry signed its first public-private partnership (PPP) agreement worth BD208m ($552m) with private developer Naseej to build more than 2,400 housing units in two areas of Bahrain: the Northern City and Al-Lawzi.

In 2015, the ministry signed a BD276m deal to buy 3,100 housing units from local developer Diyar al-Muharraq.

The units at Diyar al-Muharraq were made available under the government’s Mazaya social housing financing scheme. It is a commercial scheme where an individual goes to the banks and obtains a loan with a government guarantee and a government subsidy. Once the loan is processed the applicant can then purchase a home from a government approved developer.

The private sector has succeeded in the last few years in attracting 2,650 housing applicants through the Mazaya programme, which has led to a significant decrease in waiting times for Bahraini citizens in need of homes.

In early May, the housing ministry received prequalification documents from 44 companies for the construction of houses in the kingdom.

The ministry is seeking contractors for other upcoming projects in the kingdom.