HRH Crown Prince Approves Municipal Reforms

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, issued a resolution amending Bahrain’s Municipalities Law executive regulations, introducing new provisions on collective housing, municipal fees and land reclamation.

The amendments allow municipal councils to establish a permanent general committee, headed by the council chairman, to prepare agendas and review matters referred to the council.

Under the new rules, property owners must notify municipalities before renting properties as collective housing and provide proof that health, safety and security requirements are met. Collective housing is defined as accommodation occupied by five or more unrelated people.

Municipalities will also maintain a dedicated database for collective housing units to support monitoring and regulation.

The resolution grants exemptions from municipal fees for vacant buildings and facilities without electricity meters, as well as construction sites that have not yet been completed. Fees will begin once the property is occupied or an electricity meter is installed.

It also sets land reclamation licence fees for areas reclaimed from seawater at 400 fils per square metre.

The resolution takes effect the day after its publication in the Official Gazette, with the Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture responsible for implementation