New push to regulate shisha cafés and construction noise
From where shisha cafés can open to when construction crews can work, the Muharraq Municipal Council is seeking a stronger voice in decisions it says directly affect residents' daily lives.
Meeting this week, the council's General Committee urged that municipalities and municipal councils be given a formal role in shaping the licensing requirements for shisha cafés, saying local authorities are best positioned to identify locations that protect neighbourhoods from potential health and social impacts.
The committee argued that shisha cafés should be kept away from residential areas, schools, places of worship and community facilities, describing such separation as essential to preserving public health and improving quality of life.
While licensing rules for commercial activities are set by the relevant government authorities, members said elected municipal councils should be consulted before requirements are finalised because they are closest to community concerns and understand the needs of individual neighbourhoods.
The committee said greater municipal involvement would help strike a balance between encouraging investment and protecting the character and well-being of residential areas.
The issue was discussed during a meeting chaired by Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdul Aziz Al-Naar, with vice-chairman Engineer Saleh Bu Hazza and committee chairmen Fadel Al-Awad, Mohammed Al-Mahmoud and Abdul Qader Al-Sayed in attendance.
Construction
The committee also addressed another issue frequently complained about by residents: construction work continuing during hours that disturb nearby households.
Members noted that there is currently no clear legal framework regulating construction working hours, leaving contractors and project owners to determine schedules, often to meet project deadlines.
To address the issue, the committee discussed introducing defined working hours for construction sites to reduce noise in residential areas while allowing flexibility for exceptional cases where work outside normal hours may be necessary. It said such regulations would help balance Bahrain's ongoing urban development with residents' right to a quieter and more comfortable living environment.
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