Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Dr. Juma bin Ahmed Al-Kaabi, commended that the Kingdom of Bahrain\'s major strides in urban development under the prosperous reign of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with constant support from His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister who meritoriously won the UN Human Settlements (UN-Habitat) Award 2006 and who launched HRH Prince Khalifa Award for Human Settlements emanating from His Royal Highness\'s belief in boosting international efforts to ensure the welfare of humankind and provide them with dignified livelihood. The Minister in his speech on the World Day for Human Habitat – celebrated this year under the slogan of (Urbanization) - lauded His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister\'s constant support to these programmes. Minister Al-Kaabi said that the Ministry, in line with the Government\'s action plan and the Kingdom of Bahrain\'s National Strategic Structure2030 and detailed urban blueprints compiled in collaboration with the competent sides, has created new integrated communities, including services, road networks and allocated suitable land for housing, services and public utilities in order to ensure the welfare of present and future generations. Dr. Al-Kaabi pointed out that the Ministry, in association with other government ministries, has finalized the relevant blueprints for the pan-GCC Railways which will be a mammoth, epoch-making transformation in urbanization in the GCC-member countries, the GCC gateway for economic integration and will facilitate passenger and cargo transportation. The Minister expressed his pride and delight towards the Kingdom of Bahrain\'s leading accomplishments in urban development, emphasizing continuity of progress in achieving the motto of UN-habitat (urbanization) in compliance with the directives of the wise leadership through planning for future urbanization with support from municipal councils, the media, newspapers, the UN-Habitat Programme, regional and international organizations and civil society organizations (NGOs).