Ain Huwais to spring back to life

Ain Huwais, an ancient spring that once powered daily life in Buri, may finally escape decades of neglect as MPs push for its revival. They want the dried-out site restored to its natural form and reopened as a green oasis for families and visitors.

The proposal has been tabled by MPs Muneer Seroor, Jaleela Alawi, Abdulwahid Qarata, Mohammed Mousa and Hamad Al Doy. “We have more than 12 archaeological springs in Bahrain that have dried out or been left to fade away, and each one carries a piece of our history,” Dr Seroor said.

He noted that many of these springs link back to the Dilmun civilisation, the early Islamic period and the old farming communities that once shaped life across the islands.

“Reviving Ain Huwais is about protecting our water heritage and giving families a green space that feels like it belongs to them,” he said.

Local sources suggest Ain Huwais may be three to four thousand years old, possibly tracing its roots to the Dilmun era.

Yet the spring’s surroundings have deteriorated. Natural features have disappeared. What was once a focal point for social life in Buri now sits abandoned.

MPs say this amounts to the loss of a heritage site that deserves urgent protection and renewal.

Ain Huwais once supplied households with water, supported farmland and offered a simple retreat for families — a natural gathering spot for the community.

Dr Seroor has called for an archaeological study and scientific dating to be carried out before any physical work begins, to ensure the spring is treated primarily as a heritage site.