Eight public locations have been designated for food trucks across Bahrain’s four governorates, as part of plans to overhaul the fast-growing economic segment, with more sites expected to be added soon.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry also unveiled a new electronic platform to register food trucks and obtain a permit for the public locations.
“The ministry has designated public locations for food truck operations and additional locations will be announced later,” it noted in its statement yesterday.
In the Muharraq Governorate, a site along the Muharraq Ring Road in Block 233 has been designated for food trucks.
Two sites in the Capital Governorate have been confirmed, including Sitra Walkway in Block 381 and Ain Qasari (Bilad Al Qadeem) in Block 357.
The public locations for food trucks in the Southern Governorate will include Ain Al Hunainiya in Block 903 and Khalifa Kubra Garden in Block 957.
Three seaside locations have been confirmed in the Northern Governorate, including the Abu Subh Beach in Block 544, Budaiya Beach in Block 957 and Malkiya Beach in Block 1033.
To apply for a food truck permit, business owners can visit the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry website and select the food vending truck e-services to access the application.
“Parking at private sites will require written approval from the property owner or a lease agreement, property deed and a photograph of the location,” the ministry added.
If the food truck will be on private property, business owners are requested to contact the relevant municipality.
The GDN reported earlier this year that a total of 12 locations would be designated for food trucks and street vendors as part of a broader initiative to regulate the sector and create job opportunities for citizens, according to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak.
At the time, he told Parliament that all the locations would be designated this year, equipped with essential infrastructure and services, adding that a new electronic booking system would be launched to ensure transparency and fairness in allocating sites.
In June, food truck operators were given a six-month grace period to comply with rules and regulations or risk facing tough action, including the removal of unauthorised structures, under a government crackdown aimed at ending urban clutter and safety violations.
Operators have been given until December 21 to bring their businesses into full compliance with municipal, health and safety regulations.
The campaign is being jointly led by the Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry along with other government authorities after growing complaints from residents and institutions over violations linked to mobile food outlets, including unregulated permanent structures like seating and fences, as well as poor organisation at some sites.
Officials had stressed that no new fees are being introduced, with operators only required to complete existing approvals under regulations issued through Decision No 13 of 2017 and Decision No 38 of 2020, which govern mobile food businesses.
Under the rules, food trucks operating in residential areas must use silent generators, remain open only between 6am and midnight, stay within private property boundaries, maintain a 20-metre distance from buildings and nearby trucks, and remove tables and chairs immediately after service.
Food trucks are also prohibited from parking on the street, blocking buildings, operating near traffic intersections or causing excessive noise.
Last year, the ministry approved a comprehensive proposal to establish designated, fully-serviced zones across the kingdom, as part of the ‘Food Truck – Bahrain’ project, to promote entrepreneurship, food tourism and cultural identity by turning government or private land into professionally managed, family-friendly destinations similar to Dubai’s popular Last Exit model.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))