Her Excellency Ms. Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, received Mr. Khaled El Mekwad, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Dr. Ayman El Hefnawy, Head of the Country Programme and Representative of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation in the fields of housing, urban planning, and sustainable urban development.

During the meeting, H.E. Minister Al Rumaihi reviewed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s efforts to develop housing plans and programmes aimed at providing housing for citizens through the adoption of innovative housing initiatives and the diversification of financing options. These efforts seek to meet citizens’ evolving needs, contribute to achieving the development objectives of the housing sector, and enhance the sustainability of urban development.

Her Excellency also discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations system, particularly UN-Habitat, in the development of housing policies and urban planning, in support of joint efforts to develop sustainable urban communities.

In a related context, H.E. the Minister reviewed the key outcomes of the 2026 Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition, recently hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain as part of the Fourth GCC Housing Week. She highlighted the event’s achievements in strengthening partnerships and facilitating the exchange of expertise and experiences at the regional and international levels, as well as showcasing innovative initiatives to further develop the social housing system and enhance the role of partnership with the private sector.

For his part, Mr. Khaled El Mekwad, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom of Bahrain, commended the efforts of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to develop the housing services system and diversify the options available to citizens. He also praised the innovative initiatives and programmes being implemented in the Kingdom that contribute to supporting sustainable urban development.

He further highlighted the success of the 2026 Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition and its role in providing a platform for exchanging expertise and showcasing leading experiences and innovative solutions, thereby contributing to enhanced cooperation and the development of housing policies and programmes.

Dr. Ayman El Hefnawy, Head of the Country Programme and UN-Habitat Representative in the GCC countries, reviewed the key pillars of the programme’s strategic plan for the coming period, which focuses on enhancing access to housing, advancing integrated urban planning, supporting effective governance, and mobilising the resources required to achieve sustainable urban development.

He stressed the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in a manner that contributes to developing areas of joint work, supporting efforts to achieve sustainable urban development, and providing diverse housing options that meet the needs of communities.