Building Permits Surge : Reforms drive 4,299 permits in H1
an increase of 31.5% compared to the same period last year—according to His Excellency Wael bin
Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture.
H.E. the minister said the licensed construction area also surged by 57.9% to approximately 1.743
million square metres, reflecting Bahrain's investor-friendly climate and streamlined government
procedures.
Benayat boosts growth
The growth was driven by continued upgrades to the national building permit platform Benayat, which
has become a central tool for supporting investment, especially in real estate and urban development.
H.E. Al Mubarak said the system's expansion now includes permits for renovations, fencing, subdivision,
plot merging, change of land use, land reclamation (both land-based and marine), and new building
modifications. He credited the platform for improving transparency and speeding up approvals while
aligning services with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.
Tech-enabled integration
Benayat serves as Bahrain's unified portal for building permits, offering engineering offices full digital
access to application submission, fee payment, project tracking, and site requirements via an interactive
national map.
The platform is fully integrated with the National Geographic Information System, which features more
than 300 geospatial data layers used by over 30 public and private agencies.
According to the minister, this digital transformation ensures faster approvals, more efficient urban
planning, and better coordination between government bodies, ultimately enhancing investor
experience and service quality.
Ongoing enhancements
The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture continues to enhance Benayat in coordination with
the Information & eGovernment Authority, under the oversight of the Ministerial Committee for
Development Projects and Infrastructure.
investment, and support sustainable urban expansion across the Kingdom.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain's Non-Oil Imports Rise by 7% Compared to May 2024
The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has published its Foreign Trade Report for May 2025, highlighting a mixed picture for the Kingdom's trade performance. According to the report, Bahrain's total foreign trade volume reached BD 880 million in May 2025. While this marked an 11% decrease compared to April 2025, it showed a 6% increase when compared to the same month last year, signaling continued growth over the long term. Non-Oil Imports Rise 7% Year-on-Year The value of non-oil imports rose by 7%, reaching BD 498 million in May 2025, compared to BD 466 million in May 2024. However, imports saw a 13% drop from April 2025. The top 10 countries accounted for 71% of the total import value. China was the leading source of imports, supplying goods worth BD 75 million (15% of total imports). It was followed by the United Arab Emirates (BD 48 million, 10%) and Australia (BD 43 million, 9%). The top imported items included: Aircraft engine parts (BD 42 million) Other aluminum oxide (BD 41 million) Four-wheel drive vehicles (BD 21 million) Exports Maintain Steady Performance National exports for May 2025 totaled BD 322 million, showing a 5% decrease from April, but a 2% increase compared to May 2024. The Kingdom's top export destination remained Saudi Arabia, receiving BD 67 million worth of goods (21%), followed by the United States (BD 33 million, 10%) and the UAE (BD 27 million, 8%). The most exported products were: Unwrought aluminum alloys (BD 94 million) Agglomerated iron ores & concentrates (BD 42 million) Aluminum wire (not alloyed) (BD 17 million) Re-Exports See Annual Growth Despite Monthly Decline Re-exports amounted to BD 60 million in May 2025, reflecting a 15% decline from April, but showing an 18% increase compared to May 2024. The United Arab Emirates was the largest re-export market with BD 24 million (40%), followed by Saudi Arabia (BD 16 million, 27%) and Singapore (BD 3 million, 5%). Key re-exported goods included: Smartphones (BD 6.4 million) Four-wheel drives (BD 6.3 million) Private cars (BD 5 million) Overall Observations Despite a monthly dip in trade activity, Bahrain's year-on-year figures remain positive, driven by rising imports and re-exports. Aluminum products and automobiles continue to be among the most traded goods, while China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE reinforce their positions as Bahrain's key trading partners. The iGA's report includes detailed breakdowns of the trade balance, imports, national exports, and re-exports, offering a clear snapshot of Bahrain's economic activity and global trade connections.
Daily Tribune
3 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Building Permits Surge : Reforms drive 4,299 permits in H1
Bahrain has recorded a sharp rise in building activity, issuing 4,299 permits during the first half of 2025— an increase of 31.5% compared to the same period last year—according to His Excellency Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture. H.E. the minister said the licensed construction area also surged by 57.9% to approximately 1.743 million square metres, reflecting Bahrain's investor-friendly climate and streamlined government procedures. Benayat boosts growth The growth was driven by continued upgrades to the national building permit platform Benayat, which has become a central tool for supporting investment, especially in real estate and urban development. H.E. Al Mubarak said the system's expansion now includes permits for renovations, fencing, subdivision, plot merging, change of land use, land reclamation (both land-based and marine), and new building modifications. He credited the platform for improving transparency and speeding up approvals while aligning services with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. Tech-enabled integration Benayat serves as Bahrain's unified portal for building permits, offering engineering offices full digital access to application submission, fee payment, project tracking, and site requirements via an interactive national map. The platform is fully integrated with the National Geographic Information System, which features more than 300 geospatial data layers used by over 30 public and private agencies. According to the minister, this digital transformation ensures faster approvals, more efficient urban planning, and better coordination between government bodies, ultimately enhancing investor experience and service quality. Ongoing enhancements The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture continues to enhance Benayat in coordination with the Information & eGovernment Authority, under the oversight of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure. investment, and support sustainable urban expansion across the Kingdom.
Daily Tribune
17-07-2025
- Daily Tribune
Oil and Environment Minister affirms commitment to empowering national cadres
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, reaffirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain's commitment to empowering national competencies and enhancing their contributions across all sectors. This commitment, he emphasised, supports the goals of Bahrain's comprehensive development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and in line with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to advance the government work system. Dr. Bin Daina made these remarks during a meeting with the tenth batch of the Prime Minister's Program for Government Cadres Development. He noted that the program has become a vital contributor to government performance improvement, thanks to the skills, experience, and continued dedication of its participants. He stressed the importance of empowering young talent and involving them in the decision-making process, which strengthens public policy outcomes and infuses the government sector with innovative ideas. He further highlighted that the 'Round Table' meetings with program participants serve as an essential platform for dialogue between decision-makers and future leaders, fostering a participatory approach in policymaking and governance development. During the meeting, Dr. Bin Daina reviewed key national strategies in the oil and environmental sectors, including ongoing efforts to address climate change and implement environmental initiatives in line with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. Discussions also focused on future environmental policies, the role of innovation, and modern technologies in enhancing the sustainability and quality of environmental work. Members of the tenth batch expressed their appreciation to His Excellency for the insightful exchange and the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the Ministry's operations and future direction in the oil and environment fields.
