A crackdown on the spread of sheesha cafés near residential neighbourhoods, schools, places of worship and community facilities is being spearheaded by the Muharraq Municipal Council, with councillors calling for municipalities to be given a decisive role in approving future licences.
The council’s general committee yesterday urged tighter licensing regulations to ensure sheesha cafés are kept well away from housing areas, educational institutions, places of worship and community facilities, in a move aimed at protecting public health and preserving residents’ quality of life.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting chaired by Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar and attended by vice-chairman Saleh Buhazaa, financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Fadhel Al Oud, technical committee chairman Mohammed Al Mahmood, services and facilities committee chairman Abdulqader Al Sayed, along with senior council officials.
Mr Al Naar said municipalities and elected municipal councils should no longer be sidelined when conditions governing sheesha café licences are drafted.
“We are not against investment or legitimate commercial activity,” he said. “However, public health and residents’ wellbeing must always come first.
“Municipal councils are closest to the people. We receive complaints directly from residents and understand the character and needs of every neighbourhood. It is therefore essential that municipalities and municipal councils have a formal role in determining where sheesha cafés can and cannot operate.”
He said allowing such establishments to open close to homes, schools, places of worship or community facilities could negatively affect surrounding communities.
“Our objective is to ensure these cafés are isolated from residential districts, educational institutions, places of worship and community facilities,” he added.
“This will help safeguard public health, improve quality of life and minimise the social and environmental impacts associated with these activities.”
Mr Al Naar stressed that all commercial activities in Bahrain were already governed by licensing conditions set by relevant authorities, and sheesha cafés should be no exception.
“What we are seeking is balanced regulation,” he said. “Investment should continue to flourish, but not at the expense of families living nearby. Good planning can achieve both.”
Mr Al Mahmood said local authorities were best placed to assess the impact of businesses on surrounding neighbourhoods before licences were granted.
“Planning is not simply about allocating land for commercial activities,” he said.
“It is about ensuring compatibility between businesses and nearby residential communities. Municipal councils possess valuable local knowledge that should be reflected in licensing decisions, particularly when proposals are close to schools, places of worship, community facilities and family neighbourhoods.”
He added that involving municipal councils in the licensing process would strengthen transparency and improve confidence among residents.
“When residents see that their elected representatives have a voice in these decisions, it creates greater trust and ensures community concerns are properly addressed before licences are issued,” Mr Al Mahmood said.
Councillors believe giving municipalities and municipal councils a formal consultative role would help strike a better balance between encouraging investment and protecting residential environments.
The initiative forms part of wider efforts to improve urban planning across Muharraq while ensuring commercial development remains compatible with community wellbeing.
Mr Al Mahmood believes the proposal, if adopted, would introduce stricter planning considerations for future sheesha café licences and reinforce the role of municipal authorities in shaping healthier, safer and more liveable neighbourhoods across the governorate.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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