Market Trends of Bahrain Luxury Residential Real Estate Industry
Increase in demand for rental villas driving the market
Bahrain is now on the map of places to invest because its economy is getting better, it has more tourists, and it is known as one of the safest places in the GCC for international trade. And real estate is a hot sector. According to a CBRE analysis, the total number of real estate transactions in Bahrain in the third quarter of this year was 5,482. While the figure is down slightly from the previous quarter's total of 5,532, August alone saw 2,431 transactions, making it the second most successful month since 2018. Rates in both the sales and rental markets changed only slightly in the last two quarters of 2022.
It's important to note that the average quoted sales prices of newly released prime properties, like those in Diyar Al Muharraq, have gone up. Between Q4 and Q1, average mid-to-high-end apartment rental prices in Bahrain fell by up to 12% QoQ for two-bedroom apartments, with three-bedroom apartment configurations seeing the smallest change. With slow population growth and more apartments being built in the Kingdom, rents will likely continue to go down.
Increase in sale of luxury residences to foreign buyers driving the market
According to one of Bahrain's leading Proptech firms, there has been a recent increase in the number of leads and impressions in the residential sales market. Between May and June 2022, overall impressions for both apartments and villas for sale increased by approximately 34%, indicating strong demand for these types of units. Villas and apartments for sale in Bahrain are becoming more popular as more people become interested in real estate investment and property ownership. When comparing May 2022 to June 2022, leads for villas for sale increased by more than 76%, according to data collected by a Proptech firm. In terms of apartments for sale, there was a 59% lead when comparing the same time frame.
As a result, Bahrain has become a popular international real estate destination. Investors, primarily from the Gulf region but also from Europe and Asia, are expected. The Bahraini government is encouraging real estate popularity through economic initiatives aimed at increasing investment from both within and outside the country. It seems like many of its neighbors have implemented an economic diversification strategy to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbons. The National Economic Recovery Plan, which was launched in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed to grow Bahrain's economy by investing more than USD 30 billion in five main pillars: infrastructure, industrial development, housing, tourism, and healthcare.
In addition, in 2021, the government was expected to unveil a four-year National Real Estate Plan to encourage real estate investment. This five-pillar plan, developed by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, aims to implement international practices, protect stakeholders' rights, and develop a regulatory framework based on the key themes of sustainability, innovation, transparency, and cohesion. Bahrain is seeing a surge in luxury developments across the country. Over the next few years, major projects such as the Golden Gate Towers, Oryx Bahrain Bay, Paramount Tower, Harbour Row, and Amwaj Gateway are expected to deliver 4,322 luxury units.
