Government land platform secures 10 investment deals
The Government Land Investment Platform, introduced in April 2022, offers investors a single point of access to details on available sites, allowing them to submit proposals through an online system.
The move is part of a push to speed up land development and improve transparency in the process.
The Finance Ministry set out its approach in a written response to Parliament after MP Mohammed Al Rifai asked about the steps being taken to attract investment in state-owned land.
The ministry said it had put policies in place to encourage private backing, ensuring projects are run efficiently in terms of cost, quality, and timing
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
27-06-2025
- Daily Tribune
MPs' social aid proposal for unmarried relatives rejected
A draft law that would have made unmarried relatives pay for family members receiving social assistance has been rejected by the government, which said it clashes with existing legislation and places new pressure on the public purse. The proposal, submitted by members of Parliament, sought to amend Bahrain's welfare rules by tying the duty of financial support to marital status. MPs argued that single relatives are more likely to have spare capacity, while those who are married already face household costs. They also called for social aid payments to rise by at least 10 per cent every three years in response to rising living expenses. Objections The government raised several objections. It said the condition ran counter to Bahrain's Family Law of 2007, which requires financially able relatives to provide support regardless of whether they are married. Creating a separate rule that exempts one group based on personal status, the Cabinet said, would disrupt the legal framework and create confusion in interpretation and enforcement. The government also questioned the logic behind the bill, stating that marital status is no measure of financial ability. Loans A single relative might still be caring for elderly parents, supporting siblings or repaying loans. A married person, on the other hand, may well be in a stronger position. The government noted that support obligations should be based on means, not assumptions. Another issue lay in the proposal to increase aid on a fixed cycle. The draft offered no detailed formula or cap. The government warned that such a recurring increase, without proper financial modelling, could weigh heavily on the state budget and risk affecting other services. Under Bahrain's constitution, any bill that imposes new spending or reduces revenue must first receive government agreement. Condition This proposal, the Cabinet said, did not meet that condition and would add financial strain without prior coordination. The government reaffirmed its support for social assistance schemes, particularly for families in need, but said such support must be delivered through well-grounded, sustainable channels. It called for the draft law to be reconsidered in light of the legal and financial concerns raised.
Gulf Insider
23-06-2025
- Gulf Insider
Iranian Parliament Backs Strait Of Hormuz Closure
Iranian state-owned outlet Press TV has released a new report quoting Major General Kowsari, a senior member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission, who stated: ' The Parliament has reached the conclusion that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed, but the final decision in this regard lies with the Supreme National Security Council .' ‼️ Major General Kowsari, member of the National Security Commission of the Parliament: The Parliament has reached the conclusion that the Strait of Hormuz should be closed, but the final decision in this regard lies with the Supreme National Security Council. — Press TV Breaking (@PTVBreaking1) June 22, 2025 If Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approves the proposed closure of the critical maritime chokepoint—through which approximately 30% of global seaborne oil and 20% of LNG transit—Brent crude and natural gas futures will surge sharply this evening. Reuters earlier cited lawmaker and Revolutionary Guards Commander Esmail Kosari, who told Young Journalist Club that closing the critical maritime checkpoint is on the agenda and 'will be done whenever necessary.' 'We can close the strait of Hormuz and shut their mouths. This will ruin their economy'Young Iranians dismiss Trump attacks, sharing thoughts on bombings to Fars News'We should hit Dimona 10 times harder' — RT (@RT_com) June 22, 2025 Crypto-based prediction market Polymarket shows that odds for a 'Strait of Hormuz closure by July' surged from roughly 15% before the U.S. B-2 stealth bomber strikes on Iran's key nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan—to as high as 60% earlier today, reflecting a sharp repricing of geopolitical risk. The potential closure of the strait was recently outlined in a 'worst-case scenario' by JPMorgan's chief commodity strategist, Natasha Kaneva (available to pro subscribers in the usual place). The note cautioned that a severe outcome could send oil prices into the $120-$130 per barrel range. London-based oil strategist at Bloomberg, Julian Lee, penned several important questions about what would happen if Iran tried to close the critical maritime chokepoint: Could Iran really block the Strait of Hormuz? Iran would have no legal authority to order a halt to traffic through Hormuz, so would need to achieve this by force or the threat of force. If its navy tried to bar entry to the strait, it would likely be met with a strong response from the U.S. Fifth Fleet and other Western navies patrolling the area. But it could cause severe disruption without a single Iranian warship leaving port. One option would be to harry shipping with small, fast patrol boats. Or it could launch drones and fire missiles toward ships from coastal or inland sites. That could make it too risky for commercial ships to venture through. Similar tactics have been employed successfully by the Houthi militia in Yemen to disrupt traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading into the Red Sea on the other side of the Arabian peninsula. The Houthis have mostly fired missiles and drones at ships after warning owners of vessels linked to the U.S., the UK and Israel that they will be attacked if they approach the area. A US-led force in the Red Sea is seeking to protect shipping there. But the number of ships sailing through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden was still down about 70% in June compared with the average level of 2022 and 2023, according to Clarkson Research Services Ltd, a unit of the world's largest shipbroker. This has forced vessel operators to reroute their traffic around the southern tip of Africa instead of going through the Suez Canal — a lengthier and more expensive journey for ships traveling between Asia and Europe. Closing the Strait of Hormuz would quickly hit Iran's own economy as it would prevent it from exporting its petroleum. And it would antagonize China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and a critical partner that's used its veto power at the UN Security Council to shield Iran from Western-led sanctions or resolutions. When has Iran disrupted shipping? Iran has used harassment of ships in the Gulf for decades to register its dissatisfaction with sanctions against it, or as leverage in disputes. In April 2024, hours before launching a drone and missile attack on Israel, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized an Israel-linked container ship near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran released the ship's crew the following month, according to trade publication Lloyd's List. Tehran claimed that the MSC Aries had violated maritime regulations, but analysts pointed to its Israeli ownership connection as a motive. When it seized a US-bound tanker in April 2023, Iran said the ship had struck another vessel. But the move appeared to be retaliation for the seizure off Malaysia's coast of a ship loaded with Iranian crude by U.S. authorities on the grounds of sanctions violations. In May 2022, Iran seized two Greek tankers and held them for six months, presumably a response to the confiscation by Greek and U.S. authorities of Iranian oil on a different ship. The cargo was eventually released and the Greek tankers freed. So, too, was the oil on a tanker that Iran said it impounded in January 'in retaliation for the theft of oil by the US.' Has Iran ever closed the Strait of Hormuz? Not so far. During the 1980-88 war between Iraq and Iran, Iraqi forces attacked an oil export terminal at Kharg Island, northwest of the strait, in part to provoke an Iranian retaliation that would draw the U.S. into the conflict. Afterward, in what was called the Tanker War, the two sides attacked 451 vessels between them. That significantly raised the cost of insuring tankers and helped push up oil prices. When sanctions were imposed on Iran in 2011, it threatened to close the strait, but ultimately backed off. Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval forces, said shortly before the MSC Aries seizure that Iran has the option of disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, but chooses not to. How did the U.S. and allies respond to threats to Hormuz shipping in the past? During the Tanker War, the U.S. Navy resorted to escorting vessels through the Gulf. In 2019, it dispatched an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region. The same year, the U.S. started Operation Sentinel in response to Iran's disruption of shipping. Ten other nations — including the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain — later joined the operation, known now as the International Maritime Security Construct. Since late 2023, much of the focus on protecting shipping has switched away from the Strait of Hormuz and onto the southern Red Sea, the region's other vital waterway, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects it to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on shipping entering or exiting the Red Sea became a greater concern than the Strait of Hormuz. UK-flagged tanker Kohzan Maru reversed course in the Strait of Hormuz overnight after the strikes became public. At least one tanker in the Strait of Hormuz appears to have paused its transit after the US struck Iran overnight. Seen here, the UK-flagged tanker Kohzan Maru reversed course after the strikes became public and is now racing south at top speed. — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 22, 2025 Latest ship tracking data via Bloomberg shows tankers are still flowing through the maritime chokepoint. Other critical maritime chokepoints to keep an eye on in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued this warning to Iran on Fox News: 'If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it and we retain options to deal with that.' Rubio:'If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it and we retain options to deal with that' — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 22, 2025 Now the West waits for Iran's retaliatory attack. Also read: Here's How US Strikes On Iran Unfolded
Daily Tribune
07-06-2025
- Daily Tribune
Bahraini Parliamentary Delegation Concludes Landmark Visit to the United Kingdom
His Excellency Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, Speaker of Bahrain's Parliament, concluded a successful official visit to the United Kingdom. The visit came at the invitation of the Right Honourable Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, as part of a mutual drive to usher in a new era of parliamentary cooperation and shared progress between the two nations. The high-level delegation engaged in a series of strategic meetings and discussions focused on boosting parliamentary, political, and economic collaboration. Central to the visit was a pivotal dialogue between HE Al-Musallam and Sir Lindsay Hoyle, during which both parties agreed to embark on a renewed phase of bilateral parliamentary partnership. This includes the exchange of legislative expertise and the strengthening of institutional ties. HE Al-Musallam also extended a formal invitation to his British counterpart to visit the Kingdom of Bahrain in the near future, marking a potential milestone in legislative diplomacy. As part of Bahrain's broader vision for economic growth and international investment, the Speaker also held talks with Alderman Alastair King, Lord Mayor of the City of London. The meeting centered on enhancing financial cooperation and investment opportunities between Bahraini and British institutions, while also emphasizing the importance of evolving legislative frameworks that attract global capital and support sustainable economic growth. Furthering its commitment to parliamentary diplomacy, the delegation met with the UK Parliament's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bahrain. Discussions explored regional and global developments, and both sides reaffirmed the importance of open dialogue in shaping stronger legislative cooperation. The meeting underscored the shared desire to build bridges between the two parliaments and contribute to a broader understanding of mutual interests. The visit also featured a reception hosted by Bahrain's Embassy in the UK, attended by Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as British officials. The gathering provided a platform to highlight Bahrain's role in promoting regional stability and development, while celebrating the strong bonds between both nations. HE Al-Musallam praised the efforts of His Excellency Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps and Bahrain's Ambassador to the UK, for his instrumental role in strengthening Bahrain-UK relations. He reaffirmed Bahrain's commitment to advancing parliamentary dialogue with both Houses of the British Parliament to serve shared interests and support regional peace and sustainable development. The Bahraini parliamentary delegation included: MP Abdulnabi Salman Nasser, First Deputy Speaker MP Hassan Eid Bukhamas, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee MP Hassan Ibrahim Hassan, Deputy Chair of the same committee MP Zainab Abdulameer Khalil MP Maryam Saleh Al-Dhaen MP Dr. Hesham Ahmed Al Ashiri Engineer Mohammed Ibrahim Al Sisi Al Buainain, Secretary-General of the Council of Representatives The visit marks a renewed commitment to stronger bilateral ties, laying the groundwork for future cooperation that reflects the enduring friendship between Bahrain and the United Kingdom — a partnership warmly supported by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Majesty King Charles III.
