Mr. Abdulla Taleb, General Manager of Eskan Bank, took part in a high-level panel discussion titled “Effective Financing Experiences and Solutions to Enable Individuals to Own Housing in Residential Projects”, held during the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The forum was jointly organized by UN-Habitat and the Government of Azerbaijan.

During his participation, Mr. Abdulla Taleb showcased the Kingdom of Bahrain’s experience in developing innovative financing programs. He emphasized that housing innovation in the Kingdom, under the noble directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, may God protect him, and the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, has gone beyond the traditional concept of building housing units to encompass the creation of a flexible financing system. This system can balance community needs with long-term financial sustainability.

Mr. Taleb stressed that the essence of housing innovation lies in the ability to provide solutions that grant citizens broader choices and faster opportunities to obtain suitable housing. He explained that Team Bahrain has succeeded in turning challenges into opportunities by expanding the scope of sustainable housing services, which has enhanced the efficiency of responding to housing requests.

The General Manager also highlighted the strategic importance of public-private partnerships, noting that close cooperation with commercial banks and the real estate sector has led to the development of supported financing programs and diverse housing units that meet citizens’ aspirations. This, he added, has directly contributed to stimulating the real estate market, boosting economic activity in the Kingdom, and transforming the private sector into a key partner in urban development.

Mr. Taleb further reviewed the role of digital transformation as a tool to enhance transparency and efficiency, pointing to the success of the “Bayti” real estate platform in creating a qualitative leap in improving the beneficiary experience. The platform enables citizens to easily explore housing options and financing solutions, thereby raising satisfaction levels among beneficiaries.