Walkways, green spaces and leisure in the works

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

MPs have submitted a proposal to turn two stretches of Muharraq’s coastline into public waterfronts, with walkways, cycling paths, open green space and leisure areas.

The plan takes its cue from the Sama Bay–Qalali project, which they say worked well in drawing families and small businesses to the coast.

The motion, lodged by MPs Khalid Buanaq and Hesham Al Awadhi, covers two coastal zones: one running from Amwaj Islands and Diyar Al Muharraq to Ras Raya Jetty; the other tracing a line from the Sa’ada project to Bu Maher Fort via Shaikh Hamad Bridge.

According to the proposal, both areas would be developed with room for community gatherings, public facilities and pedestrian-friendly seafronts.

The stretch near Bu Maher would also give weight to its history and character.

The MPs want the work taken up jointly by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and the Ministry of Tourism.

The proposal, filed under Article 68 of the Constitution, has been passed to the relevant committee for study.

The attached note explains that the aim is not just to smarten up the coast, but to protect Muharraq’s long-standing link with the sea.

“Today, coastal development is not only about beautification but also about protecting and enhancing Bahrain’s maritime heritage as a key component of national identity,” it reads. “Reclaiming the sea as a shared public space reinforces the collective memory and national heritage.”

The stretch of water and land in question holds deep ties to the island’s past, shaped by fishing, sailing and the pearl trade.

“Muharraq is an island with a distinctive maritime heritage and a rich history linked to the sea,” the text adds.