The proposal, submitted by resident Shajith Ali S and highlighted on June 21 on GDN’s letters page, calls for the installation of automated roadside cooling and car wash stations where motorists can slowly drive through overhead spray systems that instantly cool vehicles while removing accumulated dust and sand – a common problem during Bahrain’s scorching summer months.
Drivers would remain inside their vehicles while paying a small fee per use, with the long-term goal of rolling out stations near highways, petrol stations, shopping malls and busy urban districts.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif has now thrown his weight behind the idea, proposing a key modification that would see the entire project operated by private investors rather than government authorities.
The letter written to the GDN by the Bahrain resident
“This is the type of practical innovation Bahrain should encourage because it solves an everyday problem while creating economic opportunity,” Mr Abdullatif said.
“Instead of placing the financial burden on the government, we believe the private sector can fully operate these stations as a commercially sustainable project. Investors can establish facilities on strategic roads while offering drivers a useful service during extreme summer conditions.”
Mr Abdullatif
Mr Abdullatif said sustainability would be central to the project’s design, stressing that recycled water systems must be mandatory.
“We should require operators to reuse water through advanced filtration systems similar to household cooling technologies,” he said. “Whether the water contains soap or not, it can be recycled for repeated vehicle washing or even redirected for agricultural irrigation purposes. This ensures the project remains environmentally responsible while supporting Bahrain’s water conservation goals.”
The proposal has also caught the attention of Parliament.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman and Bahrain Chamber treasurer MP Ahmed Al Salloom welcomed the concept, describing it as an attractive business opportunity rather than a government-run service.
“This proposal has genuine economic potential and could open the door to an entirely new service industry in Bahrain,” Mr Al Salloom, who is also the Strategic Bloc president said.
“I believe this would be far more effective as a private sector investment model rather than a publicly funded project. It creates room for entrepreneurs while introducing a service that many motorists would find highly convenient.”
However, Mr Al Salloom said the idea would require detailed regulatory review before implementation.
“We would need co-ordination and legal review involving the Ministries of Industry and Commerce, Housing and Urban Planning, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, as well as Works to determine licensing requirements, land allocation, environmental compliance and operational standards.”
If approved, he stressed, the proposal could mark the birth of one of Bahrain’s most unusual – and potentially profitable – smart mobility services, turning summer heat into a business opportunity.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))