Housing Minister visits Housing and Urban Development Corporation in Jordan

Amman, Sep. 11 (BNA): Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, visited the headquarters of the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC) in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The visit was attended by Shaikh Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Jordan; Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Khayyat, Chief Executive of the Urban Planning and Development Authority; and Balsam Ali Al Salman, Assistant Undersecretary for Engineering Affairs. The delegation was received by Jumana Attiyat, Director General of the HUDC.

Minister Al Rumaihi emphasised the lomgstanding relations between Bahrain and Jordan and the progress achieved across various domains. She commended Jordan’s experience in providing social housing and advances in urban and spatial planning.

Both sides held a meeting to discuss cooperation in social housing, advancing housing plans, diversifying options, and accelerating the provision of suitable housing for citizens. The Bahraini delegation reviewed the ministry’s programmes, including potential investment opportunities with private developers under land development rights partnerships.

The delegation was also briefed on Jordan’s housing policies, the role of the HUDC in providing affordable housing, facilitation mechanisms for citizens, and its cooperation with the private sector. They reviewed housing projects such as Jeriba and Mallaha, designed to provide affordable units, alongside Jordan’s urban planning models.

Minister Al Rumaihi commended the Ministry of Local Administration’s efforts in Jordan in preparing structural and regulatory plans and guiding urban growth to achieve balanced development. She underlined the importance of international partnerships and knowledge exchange in achieving sustainable, efficient urban growth and building balanced cities.

The Housing Minister also visited housing projects in Jerash, Ajloun and Shafa Badran, where the delegation examined urban housing developments, land and service provision, and innovative construction methods, including the use of ready-mix concrete factories to support project sustainability.

She commended Jordan’s initiatives and emphasised the similarities with Bahrain’s housing plans, particularly in diversifying options through public-private partnerships to speed up service delivery. She underlinend that field visits support experience-sharing and open new opportunities for joint cooperation in housing and urban planning, especially given ongoing developments in the sector.

Minister Al Rumaihi expressed her aspiration to enhance Bahrain–Jordan cooperation in housing and urban planning through exchanging successful practices and adopting joint initiatives that enhance infrastructure and provide sustainable housing environments for future generations.