Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa Bin Daij Al Khalifa, Director General of the Institute of Public Administration, affirmed that the cooperation between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, and Eskan Bank in launching the youth-focused hackathon titled “Innovative Housing Solutions Lab – A Youth Vision for Future Cities”, held in conjunction with the Innovation in Social Housing Conference and Exhibition taking place under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, from 21 to 24 April 2025 reflects the importance of collaboration among government institutions to empower national youth and mobilize their talents in developing priority sectors.
The Director General explained that the Institute plays a pivotal role in preparing and guiding participants through an introductory orientation day centered on Design Thinking as an innovative tool for generating practical and implementable housing solutions. She noted that this pioneering national initiative, which brings together innovation, community, and youth, represents a significant step toward developing sustainable housing solutions aligned with citizens’ aspirations and future needs. She emphasized the Institute’s ongoing commitment to supporting national youth initiatives, strengthening institutional innovation, and solidifying its role in developing capabilities and building a more inclusive and innovative government future.
She added that the hackathon presents a genuine opportunity to foster a culture of innovation in government work and to enhance youth participation in shaping developmental solutions through a positive, competitive environment that develops analytical and collaborative thinking skills. The hackathon targets Bahraini youth aged 18 to 35, including university students, graduates, and entrepreneurs. Participants will work in multidisciplinary teams to present innovative prototypes addressing challenges in the social housing sector across three main tracks: Smart and Sustainable Cities, Improving the Citizen Housing Experience, and Innovative Housing Finance.
The Director General highlighted that all submitted projects will be evaluated by a specialized committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Housing, Eskan Bank, and the Institute of Public Administration, based on proposal quality and presentation, creativity and innovation, implementation, and outcomes. She encouraged Bahraini youth in the target age group to actively participate in the hackathon by registering through the “eShabab” application and taking advantage of this unique opportunity to showcase their creative ideas and contribute to developing housing solutions that meet the needs and aspirations of the community.
Last Updated on 18 November 2025
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