On Monday 7th December 2015, His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Abdulla Al Khalifa open the Permanent Exhibition of the Survey and Land Registration Bureau. During the opening His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Abdulla said that the exhibition documents a historical era and exhibits documents that date back to the early years of the founding of the modern state of Bahrain.

President of Survey and Land Registration Bureau His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa inaugurated the permanent exhibition of the Survey and Land Registration Bureau, which ehibits many documents, maps and old historical aerial images of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as exhibiting equipment that used to be used in land surveying in old times. The Exhibitions covers a period of time extending back to the beginning of the last century.

HE Shaikh Salman bin Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa expressed his pleasure at the opening of the exhibition in concurrence with the celebrations of the National Day of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the accession of His Majesty the King to the throne.

SLRB President added that the SLRB has many documents and historical maps for which we decided to establish a permanent exhibition to showcase these important historical documents and the equipment that was used at the time in the land survey work.

He said that the exhibition also includes photos, equipment and exhibits that date back to the early years of the founding of the modern state by the late grandfather Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa. The exhibits document the progress that the Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed in the areas of urbanization, infrastructure development, creation of a good environment for real estate investment and the great strides achieved during the prosperous era since the accession of His Majesty the King to the throne.

He said that the exhibition is a joint work and the fruit of cooperation between SLRB and some other government agencies. The purpose of this exhibition is to document a historical period in the history of this country in the field of land surveying and registration of real estate properties. It shows what we were yesterday and what we have become today through using modern technologies to assist and serve many sectors including the real estate investment sector and service ministries.

The exhibition also offers an advanced technology that real estate brokers can benefit from. Properties and real estate investment projects can be marketed by using this technology. An investor or buyer may direct his smart phone on a paper map to obtain a realistic or virtual 3-D model of a project or property thus allowing the investor or buyer to view a detailed picture of the project or property to be marketed or purchased.

Attending the opening ceremony, His Excellency Eng. Essam Abdulla Khalaf, Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning said that the services offered will contribute to providing the necessary information required in the process of the development of the infrastructure. This is a step in the right direction and comes at the right time as the Kingdom witnesses major infrastructure development projects during the prosperous era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The Minister of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning said that the exhibition highlights the benefits of the services, projects and programs provided by the Survey and Land Registration Bureau that are designed to facilitate procedures and provide advanced services to the real estate sector. This, together with the laws and regulations that have been issued recently to restructure and regulate this important economic sector, will help attract capital and encourage further investment in the real estate sector which is already contributing a significant share to the gross national product of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Eng. Essam Khalaf said that the exhibition gives glimpses of the life and people of Bahrain and the advanced level of the laws governing the real estate sector in Bahrain during the era of the late Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa. Nevertheless, if we compare the past with Bahrain today, we will realise the greatness of the achievements that Bahrain has accomplished during the reign of His Majesty the King and the bright future laying ahead of us.

In addition to the historical exhibits, the exhibition provides a special area for real estate investment companies to showcase their large real estate projects, thus giving them the opportunity to market their projects at the premises of the bureau responsible for carrying out the trading transactions and registering the transfer of property ownership.

The exhibition uses the latest modern technologies to present exhibits and showcase SLRB projects and future programs.

For his part, Mr. Abdulhakeem Al-Khayyat, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Finance House, said that this outstanding work reflects the extent of the progress and development of urbanization that Bahrain has witnessed over time since the era of the late Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa until the glorious era of His Majesty the King. Mr. Al-Khayyat praised this national project and congratulated the Survey and Land Registration Bureau headed by His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa on this achievement. This project is a platform and valuable source of reference for all real estate professionals and investors. The exhibition will no doubt have a positive impact on the confidence of foreign investors in Bahrain.

For his part, Dr. Hassan Ibrahim Kamal, Chairman of the Real Estate Sector Committee at Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the exhibition showcases the progress achieved by Bahrain over successive periods of its history, and highlights the strenuous efforts of the leaders of this country to develop and modernize state institutions and its laws, regulations and procedures. The exhibition, which was opened in concurrence with the of Bahrain national day celebrations, will be of good use to citizens, real estate investors, investment companies, real estate brokers and government institutions and ministries in the Kingdom of Bahrain.  This project will be instrumental in improving the services available to the investment and real estate sector in Bahrain.

The Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB) is one of the oldest government institutions established in the era of the late Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa who laid the foundation for building the institutions of the modern state of Bahrain back in the 1920s. SLRB was then called “Tabo Department”.  The exhibition is designed to preserve the wealth of experience and records that SLRB has so that the future generations may build upon the achievements of their forefathers.

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