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Al Qaed participated in a panel discussion titled “Our Bahrain, our future – Liveability and where it falls within Bahrain Vision 2030” along with Survey and Land Registration Bureau President, His Excellency Eng. Basim Bin Yacob Al Hamar, and Al Kooheji Developments CEO, Eng. Mohamed Abdulghaffer Al Kooheji.

Al Qaed stressed the significance of such events in strengthening Bahrain's position as a leading real estate investment destination. He highlighted government support in creating a secure, attractive environment, backed by advanced infrastructure, digital capabilities, and innovative regulations that boost investor confidence and establish Bahrain as a preferred investment hub.

He highlighted Bahrain’s robust digital infrastructure and streamlined government services that help advance the real estate sector, highlighting how these initiatives simplify transactions, optimize procedures, and save time for investors, developers, and stakeholders. Al Qaed also discussed the positive impact of digital transformation on Bahrain’s sustainable economic development and quality of life enhancements for its citizens and residents.

Al Qaed emphasized the importance of digital infrastructure and government initiatives in leveraging advanced technologies including AI, geospatial systems, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases. These efforts, supported by strong data-sharing policies and standards, positioned Bahrain as a leader in enhancing infrastructure and real estate services, boosting sector performance and enhancing quality of life.

He presented digital initiatives launched by the iGA in collaboration with entities such as the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), and the Survey and Land Registration Bureau. These initiatives, including GIS-driven projects, enhance the real estate sector's infrastructure, improving performance and productivity while supporting broader national development goals.

Among them is Planning, www.planning.bh, an online platform using advanced GIS technology for urban planning services. Developed by the iGA in collaboration with Urban Planning & Development Authority and other entities, it offers 14 eServices, reducing paperwork and in-person visits. For some procedures, transaction times were cut by up to 80%, with completion now taking one to five business days. Completion time for the Minor Land subdivision service has been reduced by 64% since its launch on Planning, compared to transactions completed in 2021. The timeframe for Land subdivision with change of zone service has been reduced by 80% compared to the completion times for similar transactions in 2022 and 2023. 2025 is expected to see the introduction of 12 new services aimed at further boosting the real estate investment sector.

The Benayat project, www.benayat.bh, developed by the iGA in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and others, offers over 15 eServices for building permits. It has minimized paperwork and in-person visits, reducing processing times by up to 90% with transactions being completed in 1 to 3 business days. The platform streamlines government services and transactions related to building permits, from initiating construction and tracking construction progress to completing the project, issuing addresses and requesting utility connections such as electricity, water, and sewerage. Users are not required to re-enter any data already submitted.

In 2024, several new services were added to Benayat portal, including permits for big and small additions, accounting for 40% of all building permit requests. These services have been streamlined to reduce the number of government entities involved in the approval process by up to 80%. The reengineered services also incorporate the private sector in the review process and provides a unified guide outlining requirements in the building code, aiming to accelerate approvals and enhance transparency. In addition, it features an interactive geographic map viewer, allowing property owners and both local and international investors to check a property's status and identify necessary pre-approvals before committing to an investment. This enhances transparency and fosters trust in government services. The platform is set to launch eight new services in Q1 of 2025, further improving the quality of life for individuals and investors.

The Bahrain Open Data Platform, data.gov.bh, offers access to over 400 datasets from various government entities and dynamic visualizations through tables and charts, spatial data, and detailed interactive maps. The platform covers economic, social, and environmental statistics, supporting the Kingdom’s real estate sector.


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