Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, the second edition of the Social Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition 2026 will commence tomorrow, Tuesday, at Exhibition World Bahrain. Organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and Eskan Bank, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the event will take place as part of the Fourth GCC Housing Week and will continue until October 3.

The conference is expected to feature the signing of cooperation agreements in the housing sector, the announcement of new housing projects, and the introduction of additional housing options for citizens. Meanwhile, participating banks and real estate development companies will present exclusive offers at the accompanying exhibition.

The exhibition will provide visitors with an opportunity to explore housing projects, their locations, and details, while learning directly about available financing solutions and the eligibility requirements for benefiting from them.

The conference will bring together officials, experts, and specialists from Bahrain and other GCC countries, alongside representatives of government entities, financial institutions, and real estate development companies. Discussions will focus on the future of social housing, financing solutions, and expanding private sector participation in housing development projects. Conference sessions will also address digital transformation, construction technologies, and the development of integrated urban communities.

The accompanying exhibition, which will welcome visitors over five days, will bring together housing service providers, banks, real estate developers, and companies offering home-related products and services under one roof. This will give citizens the opportunity to compare housing projects and financing options, inquire about procedures and exclusive offers, and make informed decisions when selecting suitable housing.

GCC housing experiences will also be highlighted during this year’s event through dedicated pavilions for participating GCC countries, showcasing their housing projects and initiatives. The conference will coincide with Bahrain’s hosting of the 24th Meeting of GCC Ministers Responsible for Housing Affairs, further strengthening the exchange of expertise and joint GCC cooperation in the housing sector.

The conference will also coincide with the third edition of the GCC Housing Hackathon, which will bring together university students from GCC countries to develop innovative concepts for a real residential site in Bahrain. Participating teams will present their proposals to a specialized judging panel, with the winning teams to be honored during the conference, in accordance with the hackathon’s official program.

Seven platinum sponsors from the banking and real estate sectors will participate in the conference and exhibition: Al Salam Bank, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Diyar Al Muharraq, Khaleeji Bank, Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain, and National Bank of Bahrain.