Two years on, illegal posters still cover Budaiya walls

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A Northern Municipal Council member has renewed calls for stricter enforcement against illegal wall advertisements in Budaiya, saying the issue remains unresolved two years after it was first formally raised.

Council member Mohammed Saad Al Doseri, representing the Third Constituency, said in a fresh memorandum that walls across parts of his constituency are still covered with random posters, rental notices, and promotional flyers despite earlier assurances that enforcement procedures were already in place.

Al Doseri said he first submitted a query in May 2024 to the Northern Municipality asking how unlicensed advertisers are identified, warned, and penalised under Bahrain’s advertising regulations. He stressed that the continued presence of old and unlicensed posters reflects weak enforcement rather than a lack of legal framework.

He referred to Bahrain’s 1973 advertising law, which requires prior approval from the relevant committee before any public advertisement is displayed. He argued that uncontrolled postings contribute to visual pollution and negatively affect the public appearance of the area.

In response to his earlier inquiry, the Northern Municipality outlined a structured enforcement process in October 2024. The procedure includes routine inspections, complaint-based monitoring, issuance of violation notices, and a compliance deadline for offenders.