Councillors have called for a fresh look at Bahrain’s greenbelt zones to ensure planning decisions support both sustainability and community growth.
Members of the Northern Municipal Council claimed that official computerised systems no longer reflected the reality on the ground.
They rejected repeated objections from the Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA) over development in areas still labelled as ‘protected greenbelt’ in official records – calling instead for a new field survey and updated database.
Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie said vast tracts once classified as agricultural protection zones have already been transformed into residential compounds and private villas, while authorities continue to block other projects using what they described as outdated classifications.
“What exists on the computer is not what exists on the ground,” Dr Al Wedaie said.
“We are being told these areas are greenbelt, but when you visit them, you find concrete, fences and luxury housing. Meanwhile, genuine development requests in similar areas are being rejected under the pretext of protection.”
Dr Al Wedaie cited Jid Al Haj as an example where the original green character has ‘long since disappeared’.
“Most of the so-called protected belt is gone without real monitoring or care. We are not against protection, we are against selective enforcement based on outdated data,” he added.
The issue surfaced during a discussion on a request to change the classification of Property No 04010535 in Block 514, Jid Al Haj, from agricultural investment to religious services.
In its official reply, UPDA chief executive Ahmed Al Khayat insisted the land must remain within the agricultural investment zoning to preserve Bahrain’s diminishing farmland and support the national food security strategy announced by His Majesty King Hamad. The authority stated that any change of use must follow formal planning procedures through its electronic portal and be assessed according to established regulations.
However, councillors argued that such responses rely heavily on archived satellite images and historic classifications rather than present-day site conditions.
Council vice-chairwoman Zaina Jassim said reliance on outdated mapping tools, including old Google imagery, was creating planning contradictions.
“The maps with the government do not reflect today’s reality. They show greenery that no longer exists and ignore developments that have been standing for years,” she said.
“We are asking for updated field surveys before decisions are made that affect people’s projects and community needs.”
Members stressed that they are not calling for random urban sprawl but for an accurate reassessment of what truly remains agricultural and what has effectively lost that character.
Councillors also unanimously approved deputising Dr Al Wedaie to take the necessary steps with concerned authorities to resolve cases where projects have been stalled due to disputed classifications.
Ms Jassim warned that the current situation is creating frustration among residents, investors and community groups seeking to build facilities such as mosques and public services.
“People feel trapped between paperwork and reality. Projects that serve communities are frozen because of labels that no longer match the land,” she said.
The council believes that updating the national planning database to reflect actual conditions will both protect genuine agricultural land and unlock responsible development where protection no longer applies.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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