Bahrain’s Housing in May 2016 has currently a backlog of more than 50,000 applications, and long-term demand is expected to outpace supply, particularly as the sector works to overcome infrastructure and land allocation constraints at the same time.
Bahrain’s housing development has expanded in recent years. The government has signed its first-ever real estate public-private partnership (PPP) in 2012, and established new finance schemes in 2013, offering subsidised mortgages.
In the meantime, the government is going ahead with an infrastructure programme at the cost of $22bn over the next four years, according to comments made by Kamal bin Ahmed, the minister of transport and acting CEO of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), in October 2014, and these projects are expected to have a considerable long-term impact on both the construction industry and its private sector players.
Here is a view of local media on Bahrain affordable housing plans as reported by My Bahrain.
Bahrain Government plans six new housing projects . . .
Bahrain Northern Governorate will house six new multi-million dinar government housing projects, as announced by the Works and Housing Ministry. The works on the projects are expected to begin shortly.
The members of the Northern Municipal Council were briefed about the projects during an extra-ordinary meeting at the council in Hamala by a ministry delegation, headed by Dr. Nabeel Abu Al Fateh, the Under-Secretary for Housing.
The projects will be implemented in the Shakoora, Hamad Town, Jid Al Haj, Budaiya, Jidhafs and Dar Kulaib areas.
The BD 15million worth Al Shakoora project, which began during January 2005, was completed during this March, but, is yet to be handed over to residents, said the officials. The project was delayed, as it is still awaiting electricity connection.
Dr. Abu Al Fateh revealed that the houses have already been allocated on paper, and will be given to families once the legal formalities are completed, regardless of power connection. The Al Qadam, Al Hajar, Abu Saiba and Shakoora residents will be given the houses, due to their closeness to the project.
The second project, Al Louzy Housing Project, in Hamad Town, is divided into three phases comprising 2500 housing units. The first phase, worth BD23.56mn will be complete by the end of this month, and will comprise 377 houses, 544 apartments in 9 storey and 5 storey buildings. The second phase would include 1700 houses, while the third phase will have 460 apartments. The development will have all necessary services including, public parks, five schools and shops.
The third project, Budaiya housing project, worth BD5.14m, will be completed by next February. The project, which began in June, last year, will comprise 74 houses, 96 apartments, in four storey buildings.
The fourth project, Jid Al Haj housing project, is expected to be complete by next July. The project will include 39 houses, and has been prolonged due to delay in acquiring land from private landlords.
The fifth project, Jidhaf project, worth BD16.5mn, will comprise 162 houses, and 123 plots to be sold. The project is expected to be complete by April.
Finally, the Dar Kulaib project, worth BD6.086mn, comprising 93 houses and 86 land plots, is expected to be complete in April.