Bahraini Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture: Development of Municipal Services Enhances Urban Sustainability and Quality of Life
Manama, Sept 10 (KUNA) -- Bahrain’s Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture, Engineer Wael Al-Mubarak, said today that the rapid global developments necessitate continuing to develop the municipal services sector and enhancing its efficiency to support urban sustainability and improve quality of life. He made these remarks while chairing the 29th meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministers responsible for municipal affairs, which was attended by GCC ministers and officials concerned with municipal matters, as well as the GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi.
Al-Mubarak emphasized that the Kingdom of Bahrain attaches great importance to developing municipal work and strengthening its system in line with sustainable development goals, supporting urban development efforts, and contributing to raising the level of services provided to society. He noted that the meeting reflects the GCC states’ interest in enhancing coordination and exchanging expertise in municipal work and developing best practices and municipal services, thereby strengthening integration among GCC member states and improving the efficiency of the municipal system and its capacity to keep pace with future changes and challenges.
He highlighted the importance of developing legislation and municipal oversight mechanisms, as well as preparing guideline manuals for successful municipal legislation and practices, to empower municipal authorities to adapt to changes and enhance performance efficiency, alongside continuing to exchange experiences and successful practices among GCC member states.
In this context, the Bahraini Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture reaffirmed his country’s commitment to making an active contribution to the joint GCC work through initiatives and projects it sponsors, including the Green Requirements Guide for GCC states and the Building Regulations Guide for GCC states, along with several other initiatives aligned with the objectives of the joint GCC municipal action plan and supporting GCC states’ efforts toward enhancing sustainability and developing the urban environment.
He expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the GCC Secretariat-General, the committees, and the relevant authorities in member states for their efforts in preparing for the meeting and their role in supporting the course of GCC coordination and cooperation in various municipal fields.
The meeting’s agenda included several priority topics in the course of GCC municipal cooperation, most notably urban environment development, the GCC Building Code, the development of legislation and municipal oversight mechanisms, strategic urban planning, the joint GCC municipal action plan for 2024–2030, as well as smart city initiatives, municipal sustainability, and the exchange of experiences and practices among member states.
During the meeting, the ministers concerned with municipal affairs issued a number of decisions and recommendations included in the agenda, to be submitted to the GCC Supreme Council. They also discussed several common topics and initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation and developing GCC municipal work.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Bahraini Minister of Municipalities and Agriculture, together with the GCC Secretary-General, honored the top five winners of the sixth edition of the GCC Municipalities Award for 2025 and 2026, in recognition of their distinguished contributions to developing municipal work and enhancing innovative municipal practices. (End) K.N.A / A.M.S
