Effects Real Estate CEO Praises Land Development Rights Program and Proposes SME Participation The CEO of Effects Real Estate, Mr. Anwar Asaad, praised the mechanisms and outcomes of the Government Land Development Rights Program, which provides a package of government-owned lands and integrates them into a timeline for implementation by real estate development companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Asaad proposed opening the program to small and medium-sized enterprises by lowering the minimum number of housing units required for development from 20 homes to 10 or even 5, emphasizing that this would increase competition and expand the options for providing housing services to citizens. He stated: “What distinguishes this program is that it offers a complete package of facilities, starting with the provision of government land, financing, streamlining procedures, and finally offering homes at very attractive prices, which facilitates their sale within a very short period.” He also encouraged young people to seize the opportunity to purchase homes offered under the program. In a related context, Asaad announced that Effects Real Estate is offering several premium plots of land at very competitive prices in Muharraq and Hamala, with some plots available for as low as BHD 42,000. He added: “Given that housing financing is available to citizens with a monthly salary of BHD 300 or more, this enables many to consider purchasing,” advising young people who qualify for housing finance to take advantage of the opportunity. Additionally, Asaad called on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning to provide further facilitation and simplify procedures, such as consolidating reviews and audits into a single step. He emphasized the importance of clarifying the status of the old “Mazaaya” program, as some applications have been pending for nearly a year without progress. He noted: “Some applicants under the old Mazaaya program have been waiting for extended periods, which has led to the loss of their deposits or the property owner re-listing the property on the market, putting them in a difficult situation.” He called for fair and practical solutions that align with applicants’ financial capacities.