An urgent proposal calling on the government to formally establish dune buggy track operations as a recognised commercial activity has been unanimously approved by MPs yesterday.
The move comes after long-running recreational facilities across the country were forced to shut down due to the absence of an official licence category.
The urgent proposal by five MPs led by services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh was immediately referred to the Cabinet for review.
Legislators said the situation has left small business owners facing severe financial pressure after operating for nearly two decades with no issues, only to suddenly be labelled ‘illegal’ because the activity does not appear in the recreational goods rental register.
“This form of entertainment has existed for the past 20 years, long before commercial registrations were clearly categorised,” said Mr Al Saleh. “It is not the fault of business owners in Karbabad, Busaiteen, Seef and Juffair that after two decades their services have been found to be illegal.
“They have expenses – loans, employees and scheduled contracts to honour. December is the busiest tourism month in Bahrain, and those businesses are suffering because of the ban.”
Dune buggy track operators use four-wheel vehicles in controlled recreational zones, a popular activity across GCC tourism destinations, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. MPs argued that Bahrain risks losing out on a growing tourism trend, especially amid rising demand for family-oriented outdoor attractions.
The explanatory note attached to the urgent proposal said that despite the popularity of these tracks and the operators’ long-standing co-operation with authorities, the lack of a designated commercial activity has made it impossible for them to obtain recognised licences. Several tracks were recently ordered to close because they could not present a CR category that technically does not exist.
MPs stressed that the issue is not due to rule-breaking by operators but a legislative gap that must be urgently addressed to protect livelihoods and maintain safety.
Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee chairman MP Mahmood Fardan, one of the proposal’s submitters, said the shutdowns have exposed a regulatory flaw rather than a compliance issue.
“Owners of these tracks have shown full commitment to operate within the law as soon as the proper legal framework is available,” Mr Fardan said. “The suspension happened because there was no official classification – not because the owners violated rules. Creating the category will protect citizens’ incomes, support small and medium enterprises, and ensure safe and regulated practices.”
The proposal argues that introducing a formal commercial activity for ‘4-Wheel Dune Buggy Track Operation’ would deliver several key benefits:
n legal regulation and clear safety requirements;
n support for small national projects dependent on the activity;
n prevention of unregulated or unsafe practices;
n strengthened tourism offerings in line with Bahrain’s diversification plans;
n and new economic opportunities aligned with the kingdom’s tourism strategy.
The tourism sector, MPs noted, has grown rapidly in recent years, and modern recreational activities are essential to broaden the kingdom’s appeal to families, young people and tourists.
“With December considered one of Bahrain’s busiest tourism months, MPs warned that the current shutdown is causing unnecessary economic strain on operators who have invested in equipment, safety measures and staff for the peak season,” said Mr Fardan.
The urgent proposal now moves to the Cabinet, which will determine how and when a new category can be added to the recreational goods rental register, potentially allowing long-standing track operators to resume work legally and under official supervision.
At yesterday’s session, MPs urged the government to expedite the process, stressing that every week of delay deepens the financial impact on affected businesses.
“The operators, lawmakers said, simply want to return to work – but within a clear, regulated and officially-recognised framework,” said Mr Fardan.
&uuid=(email))