Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, Her Excellency Ms. Amna bint Ahmed Al Romaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Eskan Bank, announced the organization of the second edition of the Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition, which will take place from September 29 to October 3, 2026, at Exhibition World Bahrain. The event will be organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and Eskan Bank, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Minister Amna Al Romaihi stated that the organization of the second edition comes as part of the Ministry’s plan to implement the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, and builds on the positive outcomes achieved by the first edition of the conference and exhibition. The event plays an important role in raising awareness of housing services and financing programs. Its first edition witnessed broad participation from government and private sector officials, housing and real estate specialists, as well as real estate companies and commercial banks participating in the accompanying exhibition.

Her Excellency explained that this year’s second edition of the Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition will take on a GCC-wide dimension, as it coincides with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s hosting of the 24th Meeting of the GCC Ministers Responsible for Housing Affairs, with the participation of the ministers responsible for housing affairs from GCC member states.

The Minister noted that the alignment of these GCC events with the conference and exhibition provides a platform for expanding the exchange of housing expertise and experiences among GCC countries, while highlighting key projects and practices in the social housing sector. This will contribute to strengthening cooperation and integration among GCC countries in this vital sector.

She added that the accompanying exhibition will feature a dedicated GCC pavilion, where participating countries will showcase their housing projects and experiences. This will provide visitors and specialists with an opportunity to explore a diverse range of housing models and projects from across the GCC, while promoting knowledge sharing and the exchange of expertise among entities involved in the housing sector.

Minister Al Romaihi highlighted that the second edition of the conference represents a significant step forward in building on the outcomes of the first edition. It will address several key themes focusing on innovation in financing solutions, strengthening the role of the private sector as a key partner in implementing housing projects, expanding the adoption of smart city concepts and integrated urban communities, optimizing land use, and developing regulatory and legislative frameworks that support the social housing sector. A dedicated theme will also focus on urban development projects and the revitalization of areas with historical and cultural heritage.

The Minister further explained that the conference will witness broad participation from officials, experts, and specialists from within the Kingdom of Bahrain and abroad, alongside representatives of the public and private sectors. It will serve as a platform for exchanging expertise, showcasing best practices and experiences, and discussing future challenges and opportunities in the social housing sector. These efforts will contribute to enhancing the sustainability of this vital sector and supporting comprehensive development in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The accompanying exhibition is also expected to attract broad participation from real estate companies, banks, and financial institutions, which will showcase the latest housing projects and financing programs, as well as offer a variety of financing solutions and options. This will help raise awareness among citizens of the available opportunities to obtain suitable housing.

For his part, Mr. Abdullah Taleb, General Manager of Eskan Bank, emphasized that organizing the second edition of the Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition reflects the commitment to further developing partnerships between the public and private sectors. He noted that the event provides a platform bringing together various stakeholders in the housing, real estate, and financial sectors, facilitating the exchange of perspectives and expertise and showcasing solutions and initiatives that support the development and sustainability of the social housing sector.

He pointed out that the participation of banks, financial institutions, and real estate companies in the accompanying exhibition presents an opportunity to showcase the latest financing and real estate solutions and options, while strengthening direct communication between service providers and beneficiaries. He also noted that the GCC dimension of this year’s edition will enrich the conference and exhibition by highlighting the experiences and projects of GCC countries and facilitating the exchange of best practices in financing, real estate development, and innovation in housing solutions.

Taleb reaffirmed that Eskan Bank, in its role as a co-organizer of the conference and exhibition, is committed to contributing to an environment that encourages innovation and the development of financing solutions, while strengthening partnerships with various stakeholders. These efforts support the expansion of housing options available to citizens and contribute to achieving the Kingdom of Bahrain’s housing sector objectives.