Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs: 6,550 Building Permits Issued in 2024
The Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, highlighted the rapid urban growth currently underway in the Kingdom of Bahrain, evident in the increased issuance of building permits for various development projects, including investment, residential, industrial, commercial, and more. He emphasized the role of the "Benayat" Building Permit Portal in streamlining procedures and expediting permit issuance, marking a transformative shift that has significantly enhanced efficiency. The implementation of “Benayat” has fostered investment opportunities in the Kingdom by introducing a unified building code, reengineered processes, and the development of a dedicated electronic system that facilitates the swift issuance of building permits.
The Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs stated that the Ministry issued approximately 6,550 building permits in 2024, with around 1,780 permits issued through the "Benayat" system. On average, permits were processed within two business days. He added that residential building permits accounted for the largest share, representing about 70% of total permits by property type. Investment buildings accounted for 4.4%, while permits for specialized projects made up 22.3%.
The Undersecretary also explained that the "Benayat" system is continuously updated, with 11 new services introduced last year. These updates included permits for large and small additions, the commencement phase for large additions, review services for large additions, government project permits, the commencement phase for small additions, communication tower permits, license renewals, demolition permits, the commencement phase for communication towers, and review services for communication towers.
The Undersecretary also mentioned that improvements will be made to enhance several types of permits, including marine fill permits, land fill permits, separation permits, renovation permits, fencing permits, change of use permits, as well as merging permits, commencement phases for other permits, and fill review services.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Ahmed further confirmed that the system includes a range of electronic links to facilitate user access. He emphasized that the Ministry is committed to enhancing its communication services making it easier for users to submit feedback and suggestions to the relevant departments, as part of its ongoing efforts to transition all services to electronic platforms, ensuring timely and high-quality completion of tasks.
It is worth noting that the "Benayat" system is responsible for issuing building permits for all types of projects in Bahrain, whether investment, residential, industrial, commercial, or other types of permits. The system allows licensed engineering offices in Bahrain to submit building permit applications, check the status of their requests, receive consultancy services from relevant government entities, pay building permit fees, and apply for other building-related services. Additionally, the system simplifies the process for applicants by providing all the necessary information to help them prepare the required documents, drawings, and maps for submission. This is done through the display of all building permit regulations and requirements on the platform and via an interactive map of Bahrain that shows the specific requirements for each plot.
