An appeal has been made to protect one of Bahrain’s largest surviving clusters of traditional clay and stone homes – timeless markers of the kingdom’s pre-oil architecture – from demolition.
The Northern Municipal Council has called for action following growing concern over the rapid demolition of historic Bahraini houses in the coastal village of Hamala, where cranes and heavy machinery have already begun tearing down several ageing structures.
During a site visit with Northern Municipal Council member Mohammed Al Dossary, the GDN witnessed parts of the historic neighbourhood being cleared despite appeals from residents and heritage advocates to preserve the area.
Mr Al Dossary is now calling for immediate intervention to classify the remaining homes and surrounding areas as protected national heritage in co-ordination with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca).
“These homes are part of Bahrain’s memory and identity,” he said. “What remains in Hamala today is extremely rare. Once these houses disappear, we lose an important chapter of how Bahrainis once lived.”
He said that the village still contains one of the country’s most significant surviving collections of old clay and stone homes built using traditional Bahraini construction methods.
“The destruction is happening faster than people realise,” he added. “There must be urgent legal protection before more of these homes are lost forever.”
Mr Al Dossary said Hamala’s historic environment reflects the lifestyle of traditional Bahraini coastal and farming communities, with homes surrounded by palm groves, narrow pathways and remnants of agricultural land.
He stressed that preservation should go beyond saving individual buildings and instead focus on protecting the village’s overall architectural and cultural character.
“We are not speaking about isolated houses,” he explained. “We are talking about an entire historic environment that reflects the lives, traditions and professions of our parents and grandparents.”
The councillor noted that Hamala was historically known for fishing and farming, with generations of residents relying on the sea and surrounding agricultural land for their livelihoods.
He added that preserving the remaining heritage homes could also support cultural tourism and educational initiatives while strengthening national identity.
“There is increasing interest globally in authentic heritage destinations,” he said. “Hamala has the potential to become an important cultural landmark if properly preserved and restored.”
The village has long been regarded as one of Bahrain’s most traditional settlements.
Local publications over the years have described Hamala as a ‘living piece of the past’, where visitors could still witness how Bahrainis lived during the early decades of the 20th century – mainly 1920s and 1930s – through mud homes, palm groves and traditional alleyways.
However, decades of urban expansion and redevelopment have led to the disappearance of many historic homes and farms across the village.
Councillors fear the remaining structures could soon vanish completely unless urgent preservation measures are introduced, including heritage classification, restoration support and tighter controls on demolition activities.
According to Mr Al Dossary, the initiative would support sustainable development goals while preserving Bahraini identity and attracting tourists interested in authentic cultural destinations.
“It would preserve traditional folklore and craftsmanship while creating an attractive destination that reflects the genuine spirit of old Bahrain,” he said.
Hamala was once among Bahrain’s prominent agricultural and fishing villages, known for its sprawling farms, underground water channels and distinctive clay homes.”
The council’s financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman, Dr Mohsin Abdulla, backed his colleague’s call, stressing that such a cluster of homes is rare not only in Bahrain but across the region. “It was only after I saw the pictures that I became fascinated by the area. I never realised we had such homes, perhaps in Muharraq or Manama, but in Hamala they are completely different and unique,” he said.
“We want these homes, or what remains of them, to be preserved. They could also be used to host activities and traditional crafts,” he added, noting that this could boost the country’s tourism potential.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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