Bahrain: Concerns over bikini-clad tourists “invading” one of Bahrain’s few public beaches could stymie plans to turn the area into an investment zone.
Al Jazair Beach has long been earmarked for development by government-owned real estate company Edamah, but constant delays have led to it falling into a state of disrepair.
In September last year the Southern Municipal Council described the area as a “dumping ground” where “immoral” and “indecent” acts were committed at night.
Initially, councillors had campaigned for the title deeds to be returned to the Southern Municipality amid claims that Edamah was not properly maintaining the beach.
However, last year they made a U-turn and got behind the company’s plans for development – provided the seafront remained a public space. Yet this new-found support now seems to be waning, as the council recently rejected a request from the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry to approve a reclassification of the beach as an investment zone.
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