A plan to turn eyesores into income by using the façades of long-stalled buildings for advertising has hit a procedural wall at the Capital Trustees Board, with members split on whether the idea should be enforced through penalties, permit conditions, or municipal takeover powers.
The proposal, submitted by board member Dr Bashar Ahmedi, targets buildings on main roads where construction has been halted for more than a year. It would allow concerned municipality, under the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry, to temporarily use the building’s height and frontage for advertising panels or visual coverings that improve the streetscape while generating revenue for municipal services.
Dr Ahmedi said the concept blends urban improvement with practical economics.
Dr Ahmedi
“These stalled structures create visual pollution on key roads. Instead of leaving them as scars on the city, we can convert them into organised advertising spaces that improve the view and support municipal projects,” he said. “At the same time, it sends a clear message to owners that delays have consequences.”
The idea was reviewed by the board’s technical and financial committees, which agreed that covering dormant sites with regulated advertising could reduce visual blight, enhance safety and create a temporary revenue stream.
Technical committee chairman Mubarak Al Nuaimi said similar practices are common in major cities.
“In places like London, entire buildings under construction are wrapped with printed covers that either resemble the finished façade or carry approved advertisements. It protects the urban appearance and makes productive use of idle space,” he said.
However, the debate has shifted from the idea itself to how it can be enforced.
A parallel recommendation from the financial, administrative and legislative committee proposed introducing fines for construction delays within building and planning regulations, supported by a unified digital monitoring mechanism to ensure fairness and transparency.
Committee chairwoman Huda Sultan Faraj said penalties would push owners to respect construction timelines.
“Abandoned or incomplete buildings have environmental, safety and visual impacts. Clear penalties within the regulatory framework would encourage responsible investment and adherence to approved schedules,” she said.
But, Capital Trustees Authority (Municipality) director-general Alya Yousif warned that enforcement is far from straightforward.
Ms Yousif
“This is a complicated task. We cannot simply act against a property owner without legal grounds,” she said. “We often have to wait for court orders and also understand the reasons behind why work stopped before taking any action.”
Her remarks exposed the legal grey area facing the proposal – whether the municipality can practically intervene without explicit clauses in building permits.
Dr Ahmedi argued that this is precisely why reform is needed.
“There must be a clause in building permits clearly stating what happens in cases of prolonged delay – whether fines apply or whether the municipality has the right to temporarily take over the façade. Without that, we remain powerless in front of stalled projects,” he said.
Board chairman Saleh Tarradah offered a broader solution, suggesting the condition be standardised across all permits rather than linked only to defaulters.
“If that’s the case, then it should be added as a clause for all building permits,” he said. “Someone building a BD50 million project will not be affected by a BD100,000 charge for something that covers their property while work is in process. What matters is that all buildings under construction on main roads and highways must be covered with something presentable that hides the unfinished work until completion.”
His view has gained traction among members who believe visual standards – rather than financial penalties – may be the more effective route.
The proposal’s objectives remain widely supported: improving the appearance of main roads, reducing unused visual spaces, encouraging developers to complete projects, regulating advertising locations under strict safety rules, and generating income for municipal services without burdening residents.
Yet the path forward hinges on agreeing whether to pursue fines, mandatory façade coverings, or new permit clauses empowering municipal intervention.
The issue is expected to return for a final vote later this month, as members attempt to settle on a unified direction that balances legal feasibility, urban aesthetics and practical enforcement.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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