Amna bint Ahmed Al Romaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, has expressed appreciation for the Cabinet's approval of a draft decision amending the regulations governing housing. This amendment aims to restructure the criteria for the fifth category eligible for housing services and the methods for calculating allowances based on monthly income standards, with the goal of expanding the number of beneficiaries of housing services.
The minister confirmed that the ministry has initiated the implementation procedures for restructuring the mechanisms for calculating allowances for monthly income standards. This includes the basic salary and fixed allowances exceeding BD 100, providing citizens the flexibility to calculate all allowances. These procedures involve ministerial edicts to update the requirements necessary for the application of the new criteria.
Al Romaihi explained that the decision is designed to ensure that existing applications are not affected by allowances under BD 100. It gives citizens the option to calculate them, aiming to increase the financial support they receive. She emphasized that existing and new applications will not be impacted by the increase in allowances.
She highlighted that the new decision was formulated in response to the collaborative efforts between the legislative and executive branches and aligned with citizens' proposals received by the ministry through various channels, including members of the Representatives Council and the National Complaints and Suggestions System (Tawasul).
The minister commended the Cabinet's approval of the proposal to restructure the standards for the fifth category eligible for housing services, particularly for Bahraini women who are divorced, forsaken, widowed with no children, or orphaned and single. According to the Cabinet's approval, a new segment will be added to this category, including Bahraini divorced or widowed women with non-Bahraini children under the age of 18. The age group for the fifth category is expanded to include 21-year-olds.
Al Romaihi noted that the maximum income has been raised to BD 800 from BD 600, and the rent allowance has been modified to a quarter of the income or at least BD 100.
The decision for the fifth category aligns with the Supreme Council for Women’s recommendation, aiming to provide suitable housing and achieve living stability for female citizens. The Minister of Housing and Urban Planning praised the collaborative efforts between the Ministry and the Cabinet, resulting in effective housing solutions for Bahraini women.