A binding cap on Jayyid and Mumtaz fuel prices was among three urgent proposals approved by Parliament yesterday to ease pressure on citizens and enhance national preparedness.
MPs also endorsed the establishment of a Bahrain-Saudi maritime passenger route for use in emergency situations, along with a six-month exemption on selected municipal and industrial rents for affected businesses.
Leading the first proposal, MP Dr Abdulhakim Al Sheno said the aim was to prevent global oil market shocks from being fully passed on to households.
“Fuel is no longer a marginal cost. It touches at least 30 per cent of living expenses, directly and indirectly,” he said.
“When prices rise globally, the citizen should not carry the entire burden without a protective ceiling linked to income and inflation indicators.”
He warned that oil trading between $90 and $100 a barrel – with the risk of surging beyond $120 and potentially reaching $250 in the future amid regional tensions around the Strait of Hormuz – could trigger inflation across transport and services in Bahrain, where most families rely on private vehicles.
The proposal also calls for quarterly government reports to Parliament on fuel pricing and living-cost impacts.
The GDN earlier reported that a special permanent committee made up of government entities and state-owned companies has been formed to determine and monitor fuel prices in the local market on a monthly basis.
The second proposal urges the government to establish a regular maritime passenger route between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to serve as a strategic alternative if land or air links are disrupted.
Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam said a maritime route would ensure continuity of movement between the two brotherly countries, reduce pressure on existing crossings during peak periods and provide an immediate option if exceptional circumstances arise.
The proposal suggests using fast ferries operating from existing ports or new nearby terminals, while also supporting maritime transport, tourism and private sector investment.
The third proposal seeks temporary financial relief for factory and shop owners by exempting them for six months from land and industrial plot rental fees and municipal commercial rents collected by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry.
MP Hisham Al Awadhi, leading the proposers, said small and medium business owners were among the hardest hit by recent regional developments.
“These businesses depend on daily cash flow and continuous operation,” he said. “Reducing fixed rental obligations, even temporarily, can make the difference between staying open and shutting down, which ultimately protects jobs and economic activity.”
He described the six-month period as a balanced intervention that offers breathing space without undermining broader fiscal considerations.
MP Ahmed Al Salloom was also among the signatories to the rent-relief proposal.
MPs said the three proposals form a co-ordinated response – shielding households from price shocks, ensuring transport resilience in emergencies, and supporting business continuity during exceptional circumstances. They were approved without objection and formally referred to the Cabinet for detailed study and response.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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