Bahrain King Establishes Unified Council for Sunni and Jaafari Endowments

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain has issued a royal decree establishing a unified council to oversee the Sunni and Jaafari Endowment Directorates. The legislative move aims to streamline the administration of religious assets and enhance the governance of charitable trusts across the Kingdom. Decree-Law No. (23) of 2024 mandates the formation of the council, which will consist of a chairman and 16 members. The membership is divided equally, with eight representatives from the Sunni Endowments Directorate and eight from the Jaafari Endowments Directorate. Each member is appointed for a four-year term, renewable for one additional period upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments. Centralized Oversight and Policy The unified council is tasked with developing general policies for the management and investment of endowment properties. This centralized approach is designed to ensure that the administration of religious land and financial assets adheres to national standards of transparency and financial accountability. While the two directorates will maintain their specific religious mandates, the council will provide a coordinated…