Latest news with #MohammedAlRifai
Daily Tribune
10-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Waqf property income rises 23% to BD5.4mln last year
A rise of 23 per cent in Waqf property income, reaching more than BD5.4 million last year, was disclosed in Parliament yesterday. Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf Minister, His Ex Nawaf Al Maawda, defended the management of the Sunni Waqf Directorate amid questions about unused properties and staff wages. He said 85 per cent of the flats managed by the directorate were currently occupied, with the remaining 15 per cent vacant. 'These are normal figures for any investment,' he told MPs. Employee Responding to a question from MP Mohammed Al Rifai, he added: 'The employee mentioned is not responsible for just one building. He is following up on several projects and also handling maintenance and development.' He said all tenders were opened through an internal committee. 'We deal with all applicants with full transparency,' he said. Lack of detail MP Al Rifai criticised what he described as a lack of detail in the response. 'There are abandoned and unlet properties under the Sunni Waqf,' he said. 'Some are handled by more than one employee even though the sites are near each other, and each employee is paid around BD2,000.' He also voiced concern that some of the properties may be vulnerable to theft. Website In response to a separate question from MP Muneer Suroor, the minister said: 'The Jaafari Waqf Directorate has a website through which all affiliated properties and endowments are displayed.' He said this aimed to make information more accessible and to ensure transparency. He acknowledged difficulties with parking and overcrowding around mosques, saying: 'There is a joint study with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to address these challenges and find solutions suited to each area.'
Daily Tribune
09-03-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Government land platform secures 10 investment deals
A government-run platform for leasing public land has drawn 10 investment agreements across housing, education, and services, as the Finance Ministry looks to bring in more private sector backing. 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
