MPs push to freeze new furnished apartment licences

TDT | Manama

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Lawmakers are calling for an immediate halt to new furnished apartment licences, citing their unchecked spread in residential areas, violations of public decency, and concerns that they are crowding out other tourism-related businesses.

The proposal, set for debate in Parliament on Tuesday, warns that lax enforcement has led to a surge in furnished apartments, creating issues for local communities and undermining Islamic values and traditions.

The Services Committee has endorsed the plan. Second Deputy Speaker Ahmed Qarata, one of its key supporters, stressed the need for stricter regulations. “We need clear limits and penalties. Our goal is to put a stop to violations happening right under our noses,” he said. MPs Hisham Al Awadhi, Jameel Mulla Hassan, Mohammed Al Olaiwi, and Mohammed Al Rafaei are also backing the proposal. Supporters argue that Bahrain’s tourism sector should not be built around furnished apartments alone and that other forms of investment must be encouraged.

A major concern is that furnished apartments are being set up too close to mosques, prayer halls, and homes, despite tourism laws requiring a minimum distance. Qarata said existing laws already prohibit such rentals near mosques and residential areas unless specific distance requirements are met but accused authorities of failing to enforce them. “People living in these areas are fed up,” he said. “We have laws, but they are not being enforced properly.”

The proposal also calls for a more balanced approach to tourism investment. MPs have requested a full government study to assess licensing regulations and whether additional controls should be introduced.

However, the Tourism Ministry and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority have pushed back, arguing that a blanket ban is unnecessary. A 2019 rule already prohibits furnished apartments in housing areas, allowing them only in commercial buildings or those approved by tourism authorities. The ministry warned MPs in writing that blocking new licences entirely could deter investment and limit accommodation options as Bahrain expands its tourism sector.

Despite this, the committee has reaffirmed its support for the proposal, insisting that the current system is not being enforced effectively