Council Bid on Shisha Cafes Rejected
A bid to give Muharraq councillors a formal say over new shisha cafés has been rejected by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, which says existing laws already control where such businesses can operate.
The proposal would have required approval from both Muharraq Municipal Council and the municipality before restaurants and cafés serving shisha could be licensed.
The ministry said there was no need for the extra step because smoking, health and planning rules already give the authorities enough power to control locations and stop too many shisha businesses clustering in one area.
The ministry said its role in applications for cafés, restaurants and other premises is confined to checking the proposed site and making sure location rules are met. The licence to carry out the business activity itself falls to other bodies.
Shisha businesses are already governed by Law No. 8 of 2009 on smoking and tobacco.
The law bars smoking in enclosed public places, including restaurants, hotels, cafés and other premises selling food or drink to the public. Separate smoking areas are allowed, but they must be sealed off from non-smoking areas and fitted with their own extraction fans.
Ministerial Decision No. 2 of 2011 also bars shisha service in residential areas, parks, sports clubs and shopping malls.
It lays down health and site rules for restaurants, cafés and other licensed premises serving tobacco for smoking.
Planning rules provide another check.
Decision No. 93 of 2023 governs land use and building rules across Bahrain, including areas classed for restaurants and cafés. It covers building ratios, parking, setbacks and façades, as well as the mix of businesses within each area.
The ministry said these rules already allow the authorities to limit concentrations of shisha cafés in one part of town while keeping a mix of shops and services.
It therefore saw no need to add another approval stage involving the council and municipality to the licensing process.
Assistant Undersecretary for Acquisition and Municipal Councils Affairs Sadiq Al Sitri said the ministry would continue working with Muharraq Municipal Council on public health, safety and town planning.
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