Bahrain’s executive and legislative authorities held a meeting today to discuss options for the 2025-2026 state budget.
The meeting was co-chaired by Speaker Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam, Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, and Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. The meeting was attended by ministers, members of legislative finance and economic members committees, and senior officials.
Speaker Al Musallam emphasised that the budget would follow His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives, as outlined in the royal address at the opening of the current legislative session, aiming to meet national objectives. He thanked HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for his support and follow up in the discussions of the 2023-2024 budget, which prioritised financial stability, positive economic growth, creating job opportunities, enhancing of financial and economic support programme and implementing the fiscal balance programme.
Shura Council Chairman Al Saleh highlighted the importance of safeguarding national achievements and advancing development initiatives under His Majesty the King’s directives. He commended HRH the Crown Prince’s commitment to fostering cooperation between the executive and legislative authorities, focusing on working towards sustained national and developmental goal in the Team Bahrain spirit.
The Shura Chairman emphasised that efforts will be made during the budget discussions to maintain the progress of fiscal stability and positive economic growth, in addition to creating opportunities for citizens and continuing to develop government services.
The Finance Minister underscored the importance of the 2025-2026 budget in advancing Bahrain’s development goals in the coming stage. He conveyed HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s best wishes for successful budget discussions, underscoring full cooperation with the legislative authority for national benefit.
The minister said the budget draft will prioritise positive economic growth in parallel with achieving fiscal balance targets and working to continue creating promising opportunities for citizens and upgrading government performance and services. He underscored the role of cooperation to achieve these goals to fulfil the aspirations of citizens.
During the meeting, government officials gave a presentation on the progress of the fiscal balance programme and the requirements of transitioning from balance fiscal sustainability. The meeting also discussed the budget’s focus on prioritising the interest of the nation and citizens through economic growth, financial sustainability, job creation, improved service quality, enhanced financial and economic support programmes and higher efficiency of government spending.
BNA(R)
