Capital gets tough on high-rise safety

TDT | Manama

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Capital is taking aim at making its skyline safer with a sweeping new safety drive.

Under a plan just approved by the Capital Trustees Board, all buildings with ten floors or more will soon be subject to mandatory annual safety checks.

The decision, sparked by growing concerns over fire hazards and power outages in tall buildings, marks a major shift in how the capital monitors its high-rises.

Tower managers will be required to file yearly test reports on fire alarm systems and backup power generators—key tools in any emergency.

Board member Dr Bashar Ahmadi, who tabled the proposal, warned that fires and power outages remain serious risks in tall buildings, calling for stricter systems to protect lives and ensure emergency equipment is always ready.

“These measures would not only sharpen safety inside buildings but also help shape better-run urban areas,” he said. The board believes the new requirements will raise awareness among property managers and owners, while giving inspectors stronger tools to monitor compliance.

The plan, which follows a wider debate on public safety standards across the capital, will now move to the authorities responsible for implementa - tion.