An alarming surge in rat infestations across Bahrain has prompted urgent calls for government intervention, as residents complain of rodents overrunning homes, damaging property and threatening public health in both newly-urbanised areas and historic districts.
Municipal councils across the kingdom say they have been inundated with complaints, with hotspots appearing to be emerging in Hamad Town, Salman Town, Ramli and old Muharraq, where abandoned and protected properties have become breeding grounds for the disease-carrying pests.
Western Hamad Town councillor Abdulla Al Qobaisi warned that the situation was spiralling out of control, with rats infiltrating homes and destroying personal belongings.
“Rats have infested furniture, electronics and facilities in people’s homes,” Mr Al Qobaisi said. “Residents have repeatedly asked the Health Ministry to intervene, but delays in securing permissions from the Housing and Urban Planning Ministry and the Works Ministry have made matters worse. People have been forced to live alongside a growing rat population.”
He added that the rodents were multiplying rapidly, particularly in areas undergoing rapid urban development.
A’ali and Ramli District councillor Abdulla Ashoor said that the issue can’t be ignored – despite the Health Ministry stepping in all the time. “We need the source of the problem to be identified and short, medium and long-term solutions to be drawn up to tackle this menace. There are complaints for something that is ongoing and needs attention.”
Northern Municipal Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie believes responsibility for tackling the crisis lay squarely with the Health Ministry.
“The Health Ministry is the body responsible for addressing rat infestations, along with resolving any related issues,” Dr Al Wedaie said, stressing the need for swift and co-ordinated action.
In the south, however, officials say preventative measures are already in place, though residents remain unconvinced.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif said the authorities had been proactive. “The Health Ministry carries out spraying campaigns every six months,” he said.
Despite this, rat infestations continue to spread, forcing many families to turn to private extermination companies at their own expense.
The situation appears more serious in Muharraq, where the Municipal Council has unanimously approved an urgent proposal calling for immediate government action.
Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar described the situation as ‘unacceptable’, pointing to old, protected homes near Unesco-listed sites – including the Bahrain Pearling Path – that cannot legally be demolished or accessed.
“We need real action from every concerned ministry and government department,” he said. “Rats have found sanctuary in abandoned protected properties and are breeding uncontrollably. Extermination work is no longer a deterrent – even products bought online are somehow ineffective. The rats have become smarter.”
He added that rodents could be seen moving freely through neighbourhoods, creating an unsightly and dangerous image.
Municipal members have called for a joint government approach, including allowing controlled access to protected properties for sanitation and pest control, and developing both short-term and long-term strategies to eradicate the problem.
As rat sightings continue to rise and frustration grows, residents are demanding decisive action – warning that without it, the infestation will only worsen, threatening Bahrain’s public health and heritage.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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