Real estate transactions in the Kingdom recorded their highest annual surge in the past decade, rising by more than 54% to reach BHD 1.6 billion in 2025. This increase closely mirrors the year-on-year growth achieved, as transaction values rose by 51.7% compared to 2024, according to the latest official data issued by the «Survey and Land Registration Bureau».
The number of real estate transactions also grew by 19.8% during the year, reaching 29,777 transactions compared to 24,863 in 2024. This reflects a broadening base of market activity, in parallel with the expansion of housing finance programs and the launch of a number of investment real estate projects across the Kingdom.
Data covering the period from 2016 to 2025 show that the total value of real estate transactions increased from BHD 1.036 billion in 2016 to BHD 1.602 billion in 2025, an increase of BHD 566 million, representing a growth rate of 54.6%. Over the same period, the number of transactions rose from 17,434 to 29,777.
According to third-quarter 2025 data by property type, land transactions amounted to BHD 156.7 million, representing 9.8% of total annual transactions, across 1,014 transactions. House transactions totaled BHD 107.8 million, accounting for 6.7% of the annual total, through 788 transactions. Apartment transactions reached BHD 66 million, representing 4.1% of total annual transactions, across 827 transactions, while building transactions recorded BHD 64.2 million, or 4.0% of the total, through 141 transactions.
In terms of geographic distribution during the third quarter of 2025, transaction values in the Capital Governorate reached approximately BHD 125.9 million, representing 7.9% of total annual transactions, followed by Muharraq Governorate with BHD 111.9 million, and the Southern Governorate with transactions totaling BHD 109 million. The Northern Governorate recorded transactions valued at BHD 55.3 million.
By nationality, the value of transactions conducted by Bahraini citizens during the third quarter of 2025 reached approximately BHD 366.3 million, equivalent to 22.9% of total annual transactions, across 2,455 transactions. This compares with BHD 18.5 million for GCC nationals, representing 1.2% of the total, through 138 transactions, while other nationalities recorded transactions worth BHD 17.5 million, or 1.1% of the annual total, across 212 transactions.
Demographic data for 2025 showed a decline in the average age of traders to 48.7 years, compared to 51.34 years in 2019, alongside a convergence in gender distribution of property ownership. Males accounted for 59% of land ownership compared to 41% for females, while males held 54% of house ownership compared to 46% for females.
It is worth noting that the construction sector, according to third-quarter 2025 data, accounted for 6.8% of total non-oil activities in the gross domestic product (GDP). The sector also recorded year-on-year growth of 4.4% during the same quarter, supported by a notable increase in total building area, which rose by 42.9% year-on-year, alongside a 5.7% increase in the number of building permit applications during the same period.
In addition, the stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) linked to real estate activities grew by 3.3% to reach BHD 0.6 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 29.1%.