Bahrain is stepping up efforts to get more citizens and residents out of their cars and onto public buses, with a top official calling for a change in the way people view public transport.
Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry Land Transport and Postal Affairs Under-Secretary Fatima Al Dhaen said the ministry was focusing on the younger generation as a starting point for changing attitudes and encouraging greater use of public transport.
Her comments came yesterday during a Rotary Club of Manama meeting at the Gulf Hotel Convention and Spa’s Awal Ballroom, where she was the guest speaker.
“We at the ministry believe that changing the mindset of the youth is the way to go,” she told the GDN.
“One of the initiatives that we are taking is reaching out to schools and universities to spread this culture of sustainability.
“It is not easy, but the team has reached out to a number of schools, and from my side, I have reached out to several universities. We would be happy to host lectures to deliver what we have in mind, change the mindset of people and, especially, influence the mindset of the youth.”
Ms Al Dhaen said expatriates make up the majority of public bus users in Bahrain, with Bahrainis accounting for an estimated 30 to 40 per cent of passengers.
She said that while the kingdom has a well-connected bus network, public attitudes and established travel habits remained among the main barriers to greater use.
“Improving accessibility will also be key to encouraging more people to leave their private vehicles at home,” she said, stressing the importance of having bus stops and terminals located close to residential areas and equipped with air conditioning.
The ministry is also seeking to increase the number of Bahrainis working as bus drivers, with nationals currently making up an estimated 20pc to 30pc of the workforce.
“Of course, we want Bahraini bus drivers, but they are kind of hesitant about the possibility and whether there is any kind of training,” she said.
“However, the good news is that we are working with a team on having an academy where we can train Bahrainis to take the lead, and gradually we will have a full fleet of Bahraini drivers.
“Of course, this will take a bit of time, but this is something that is a priority at the ministry.”
The ministry is also reviewing the existing discount for elderly passengers to assess whether it can be enhanced and provide greater support for older members of the community.
The public transport network has continued to expand in recent years, with the kingdom seeking to strengthen sustainable transport in line with international best practices.
The network now includes more than 600 bus stops and 26 routes, covering a distance of more than 39,500km each day.
Since its redevelopment in 2015, the network has carried more than 116 million passengers through March 2026, reflecting growing reliance on public transport and public confidence in the efficiency of the system.
In March 2026 alone, the network recorded an operational rate of 80pc, with 782,931 trips and an average of 25,256 trips each day.
The ministry is also continuing to expand solar-powered public transport stations as part of its commitment to developing more sustainable infrastructure. By using renewable energy to power station facilities, the projects help reduce reliance on the conventional electricity grid while supporting the kingdom’s wider environmental sustainability goals.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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