Latest news with #Benayat
Daily Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Benayat Gains Bigger Role : Workshop highlights platform's growing importance
TDT | Manama The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has stepped up its digital transformation push by expanding the scope and visibility of 'Benayat', Bahrain's national platform for building permit services. A recent workshop brought together developers, investors, and officials to highlight how the platform supports real estate growth through smarter, faster service delivery. Organised in coordination with the Information and eGovernment Authority and the Bahrain Real Estate Development Association, the event focused on raising awareness about regulatory and technical procedures for obtaining building permits via Benayat. Digital Expansion Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs, His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said the ministry continues to enhance user experience by adopting advanced digital systems that streamline services and speed up transactions. He described Benayat as one of the most important platforms driving improved service efficiency and quality. The workshop introduced attendees to the system's operational mechanisms and upcoming services, with a focus on improving engagement with clients, investors, and engineering offices. Sector Partnership Representatives from the Information and eGovernment Authority presented a detailed overview of Benayat's functions and services. These include permit types such as minor additions, renovation, fencing, property merging and splitting, and changes of use. Attendees were also introduced to the application tracking process and the platform's integrated interactive map of Bahrain. H.E. Eng. Aref Ahmed Hejres, Chairman of the Bahrain Real Estate Development Association, praised the ministry's role in streamlining processes and enhancing service quality. He highlighted the partnership between the ministry and the association as key to supporting and energising Bahrain's real estate and investment landscape. Integrated Platform Benayat is the unified platform for issuing building permits across all categories. It allows engineering offices and property owners to submit applications, pay fees, and review requirements through a digital map covering the entire kingdom. The system is supported by Bahrain's national geospatial database, which includes more than 300 spatial data layers serving over 30 government and private entities. This integration helps accelerate procedures, support planning, and improve service delivery while enhancing coordination among institutions to meet sustainable development goals.
Daily Tribune
22-07-2025
- Business
- 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
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Councillor proposes automatic refunds for building deposits
Refunding building deposits would become automatic under a new proposal being examined by Muharraq Municipal Council, ending a lengthy process blamed for delays and confusion among residents. Councill or Abdul qader Mahmoud introduced the idea, inspired by an existing system used in Diyar Al Muharraq, where refunds happen automatically once a Building Completion Certificate is granted. Cetificate Currently, residents must apply for this certificate and then separately request their deposit back, often leading to unclaimed cash piling up in municipal coffers. Under Mahmoud's proposal, applicants would enter their banking information at the same time they apply for building or renovation permits. Once an inspector issues the completion certificate, the deposited funds would transfer directly to the applicant's bank, accompanied by a notification confirming the transaction. Pressure Muharraq Council believes the change would reduce pressure on municipal staff and make financial processes clearer and easier to track. The existing digital system, known as Benayat, reportedly has the capability to manage such automated transfers without major adjustments. The council will now recommend that the Minister of Municipalities Affairs issues a directive formally endorsing the automatic refund scheme and updating digital platforms accordingly. Coordination workshop To ensure smooth implementation, a coordination workshop between municipal bodies, inspectors, and finance teams would clarify roles and duties. Additionally, a public awareness drive would ensure residents provide accurate banking details from the outset.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Bahrain: Eight new services launched to speed up building permits
Bahrain - Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak yesterday announced the launch of eight new services on the Benayat electronic building permit system ( It has been launched in co-operation with the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), as part of efforts to enhance service efficiency and streamline procedures for investors and stakeholders. The new services include renovation, fencing, subdivision, merging, land and marine reclamation, change-of-use and modification permits for new buildings. These services support both investment and residential projects and are fully digitised, reducing processing times and the number of entities involved. The minister noted that the ongoing collaboration with iGA aims to enhance municipal services in Bahrain by simplifying procedures, improving efficiency and raising satisfaction among customers, investors and engineering offices. He added that the ministry continues to provide support and guidance to engineering offices, ensuring effective service delivery. The platform reflects the government's commitment to digital transformation across sectors, offering citizens and investors an efficient way to manage permit applications. The new services are also designed to increase procedural chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed commended the ministry's commitment to digital transformation, in line with government directives and the decisions of the ministerial committee for information and communication technology. He underlined the importance of the strategic partnership between the ministry and iGA in strengthening Bahrain's digital infrastructure, particularly in real estate and investment sectors. Mr Al Qaed noted that the new services deliver an integrated experience for engineering offices, property owners, government entities and developers. The fully digital process shortens permit issuance times and reduces the number of government entities involved, while improving user interfaces and enabling automated fee payments and permit issuance. Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Bahrain News Gazette
04-05-2025
- Business
- Bahrain News Gazette
Municipalities Minister Announces Launch of Eight New Services on Benayat System
Manama: Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, announced the launch of eight new services on the Benayat electronic building permit system ( in cooperation with the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), as part of efforts to enhance service efficiency and streamline procedures for investors and stakeholders. According to Bahrain News Agency, the new services include renovation, fencing, subdivision, merging, land and marine reclamation, change-of-use, and modification permits for new buildings. These services support both investment and residential projects and are fully digitised, reducing processing times and the number of entities involved. The Minister noted that the ongoing collaboration with iGA aims to enhance municipal services in Bahrain by simplifying procedures, improving efficiency, and raising satisfaction among customers, investors, and engineering offices. He added that the Ministry continues to provide support and guidance to engineering offices, ensuring effective service delivery. The platform reflects the government's commitment to digital transformation across sectors, offering citizens and investors an efficient way to manage permit applications. The new services are also designed to increase procedural transparency. Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, iGA Chief Executive, commended the Ministry's commitment to digital transformation, in line with government directives and the decisions of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology. He underlined the importance of the strategic partnership between the Ministry and iGA in strengthening Bahrain's digital infrastructure, particularly in real estate and investment sectors. Al Qaed noted that the new services deliver an integrated experience for engineering offices, property owners, government entities, and developers. The fully digital process shortens permit issuance times and reduces the number of government entities involved, while improving user interfaces and enabling automated fee payments and permit issuance. The e-services offer end-to-end processing for various transactions. The fencing permit allows landowners and engineers to secure property boundaries; renovation permits support structural repairs without affecting the building's core integrity; subdivision and merging services streamline land configuration; while use-change permits, reclamation permits, and permit modifications support evolving real estate needs. All services have been digitised and timeframes reduced. With the addition of the new services, Benayat now offers a total of 15 e-services. These have reduced paper transactions, eliminated the need for in-person visits, and cut processing time by up to 90% in some stages. Applications can now be completed in 1-3 working days. The system also integrates other government services such as utility connections and includes an interactive map enabling investors to assess property status and pre-approvals, improving transparency and confidence. Benayat serves as the national platform for all building permits in Bahrain. It allows engineering offices to submit and track applications, pay fees, and access requirements through a nationwide interactive map. The platform is integrated with the National Geospatial Information Database, comprising over 300 data layers from 30+ entities, helping accelerate procedures, support planning, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders to meet sustainable development goals. Further information is available via the national suggestions and complaints system 'Tawasul' or through the platform's website at
