The executive and legislative authorities held a joint meeting today on the state’s general budget project for the two financial years 2025-2026. The meeting was chaired by the House of Representatives, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Salman Al-Muslim, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and by the Shura Council His Excellency Mr. Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, Speaker of the Shura Council, while the government side was His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy.
The meeting also witnessed the attendance of a number of those with the ministers, the main deputies of the Shura and Representatives, the head and members of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committees in both chambers, and a number of officials.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Salman Al -Muslim, Speaker of the House of Representatives, praised the royal directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country, may God protect and preserve him, to accelerate the pace of housing projects to provide 50,000 new housing units, develop public services, with a focus on developing the education and health sectors, as they are the cornerstone of the country’s renaissance, and keeping pace with the aspirations of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the prosperity of the family Bahraini.
Emphasizing His Excellency the keenness of the legislative authority and in constructive cooperation with the executive authority, to implement the royal directives in all plans, legislation and laws.
His Excellency the Speaker of the House of Representatives pointed out that the consultative meetings on the draft law of the state’s general budget for the financial years 2025-2026, with its projects, programs, visuals and proposals, whose highest goal is to increase economic growth, create promising opportunities for citizens, achieve financial sustainability, and raise the efficiency of support for citizens, and that the interest of the Bahraini citizen will always remain the goal of national work for all, in light of the national march in light of the national march. Comprehensive development led by His Majesty, may God protect and preserve him.
For his part, His Excellency Mr. Ali bin Saleh Al -Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council, stressed that the joint meetings and meetings between the legislative and executive authorities over the past weeks reflect the commitment to national responsibility, and the keenness to exchange opinions and ideas that contribute to achieving national aspirations and aspirations within the state’s general budget project, and supports the continuation of the areas of development and progress witnessed by the Kingdom of Bahrain in light of the prosperous era of the owner of the owner His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country, may God protect and preserve him.
His Excellency the President of the Shura Council stated that the initiatives and programs presented by the esteemed government, especially in the fields of health, education, housing and public services, translate the directives of His Majesty the King, may God bless him, and His Majesty’s affirmation of the sustainability of development, development and modernization in all vital areas.
His Excellency the President of the Shura Council valued the attention, support and follow -up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, may God protect him, and the directives of His Highness to deepen the paths of cooperation and coordination between the legislative and executive authorities, and harness all efforts and efforts to achieve the national interest.
His Excellency the Chairman of the Shura Council indicated that the council will be keen to discuss and study the state of the state’s general budget bill for the year (2025-2026 AD), in accordance with the specific constitutional frameworks, and will work to harness all legislative and economic capabilities and experiences, in a way that confirms the commitment to national responsibility, and supports financial stability and economic growth of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
His Excellency the Chairman of the Shura Council noted the relevant efforts made by the government team headed by His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, in the presence of Excellencies and Excellency Ministers and officials, and the keenness to provide all information and data, and answer the inquiries and questions of the legislative authority regarding the state’s general budget project.
For his part, His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, raised the highest verses of thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country, may God protect and preserve him, on the directives of his lofty Majesty regarding the acceleration of housing projects to provide 50,000 housing units, indicating His Excellency that the government according to the command of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, may God protect him She is honored to hold the responsibility for implementing the royal royal directives and will intensify its efforts to accelerate the implementation of housing programs and projects and will set all the executive plans that ensure the speed of achieving what His Majesty prefers, may God protect and preserve him, by directing him regarding the multiplication of efforts to meet national aspirations in the vital sectors, with a focus on developing the education and health sectors as they are the cornerstone of the human renaissance and its role in building the country.
His Excellency the Minister of Finance and National Economy also stressed the importance of strengthening continuous cooperation and close coordination between the executive and legislative authorities, pointing out that this partnership between the two authorities is the utmost importance to achieving sustainable development and the aspirations of citizens in the present and the future, adding that the joint work between the two authorities contributes to advancing the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the country, may God protect him He sponsored him, and the follow -up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, may God protect him.
His Excellency explained that the meetings held in the recent period with the legislative authority discussed the most prominent features and goals of the state budget bill for the two years 2025-2026, which reflects the vision of the Kingdom of Bahrain in promoting economic development and financial sustainability, in a way that serves the supreme interest of the country and opens wide horizons, praising what has been achieved in cooperation between the two authorities on the principles and principles related to preparing the general budget for the years 2025 – 2026.
In conclusion, His Excellency expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to the members of the legislative authority for their constructive cooperation and their ongoing efforts to achieve the interest of the country and citizens, stressing that the meetings between the two authorities were fruitful and characterized by seriousness and shared responsibility in working to achieve the desired goals.
The joint meetings between the two authorities started on October 31, 2024, and continued on March 2, 2025, March 9, 2025, March 12, 2025, March 16, 2025, and March 19, 2025, where the total goals of the state budget for the state were reviewed for the two years of 2025-2026, and strategic projects related to several vital sectors, including housing and urban development, education, education, works, and works Health, work and social development, as well as electricity, water, oil and environment sectors. During the meetings, the government provided options aimed at achieving the efficiency of public spending, reducing the budget deficit, and enhancing financial sustainability.
During the meeting today, the principles and foundations were reviewed to prepare the general budget of the state for the two financial years 2025 and 2026, and this is the impact of the joint meetings between the executive and legislative authorities, which are as follows:
1. Not to raise the percentage of added value.
2. Add the annual increase to retirees by maintaining an increase in the living improvement premium for retirees that were added in the budget of 2023-2024, and raising the amount of living improvement allowance for retirees for the year 2025-2026
3. Continue to develop the quality of government services, efficiently and effectively by adopting financing for projects and programs for:
-Achieving the sustainability of the provision of housing services for citizens and reducing waiting lists by immediately obtaining housing service and in partnership with the private sector, as the budget includes the largest volume of housing projects and services by 800 million Bahraini dinars, which is the highest compared to previous budget courses since the beginning of the provision of housing services to citizens in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Support the education sector with Bahraini competencies, develop curricula and expand educational services.
-Continuing the implementation of infrastructure projects, including the establishment of schools that serve the expansion of the new housing cities, the reopening of a number of historical schools and the establishment of academic buildings in schools, the development and maintenance of roads and sewage networks.
– Developing health services and improving their quality for citizens and residents by financing programs and projects for the health sector with 688 million Bahraini dinars.
-Enhancing job opportunities. Programs include employment of 25,000 Bahraini annually, including the creation of new programs aimed at employing 8,000 new graduates annually, and through the work fund “enabling” programs will be implemented to support 50,000 Bahraini annually with different financing and training programs during the years 2025 and 2026, which contributes to creating opportunities and making the citizen the first option for employment.
4. Continue to raise the efficiency of repeated expenses in ministries and government agencies, and reduce them by 5% of the exchange as a minimum.
5. Supporting people with low incomes from citizens with a direct cash amount in the event that the prices of the subsidized commodities are modified during the budget course.
6. Preparing a package of laws to enhance the financial situation through revenues on the profits of companies that exceed their annual revenues and profits are a minimum determined by the law, in addition to setting incentives for companies to employ citizens and investment, and increase selective revenues on energy drinks, soft and drunk drinks, in addition to fees for carbon emissions on companies.
7. Promote the sustainability of infrastructure and stimulate the reconstruction of the non -built investment and commercial lands.
8. Options for reducing financial deficit and covering financing needs during the budget implementation period.
The state’s general budget project for the two financial years 2025-2026 will enhance the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to achieve financial sustainability, in order to achieve the aspirations of citizens and support the comprehensive development march goals.
