His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, has issued Royal Order No. 18 of 2026, Al-Bilad newspaper reported.

The sovereign decree mandates the official formation of the "Islamic Waqf Affairs Council" to enhance the administration of endowments in the Kingdom.

This royal decision aligns with the continuous leadership care for Islamic sanctities and upgrading religious institutions to meet contemporary needs.

The newly formed council will oversee both the Sunni and Jafari endowment directorates, ensuring the sustainable investment of waqf assets under legal frameworks.

The upgraded formation focuses on appointing highly qualified national competencies capable of achieving qualitative development in managing charitable assets.

The Islamic Waqf Affairs Council aims to reinforce the role of mosques in promoting tolerance, moderation, and coexistence within Bahraini society.

The royal order seeks to solidify charitable and community frameworks, providing outstanding services to houses of worship across all governorates.

This royal directive was widely welcomed by religious and legal circles in Manama, considering it a powerful boost for endowment development.

The council will work on deploying modern, innovative strategies to invest in real estate and waqf projects, bringing continuous benefit to society.

This institutional step confirms the role of endowments as a socio-economic catalyst supporting the comprehensive development of Bahrain.

The new formation guarantees seamless coordination between endowment administrations and government entities to streamline infrastructure operations.

This milestone reflects the leadership's dedication to supervising religious affairs, preserving Islamic heritage, and expanding endowment assets for future generations.