Bahrain’s skyline could soon be getting a whole lot greener, with a new proposal calling for rooftop gardens to be incorporated into buildings of 10 storeys or more.
The initiative, led by Capital Trustees Board member Dr Bashar Ahmedi, aims to transform otherwise underused rooftops into green spaces, bringing more vegetation into increasingly built-up parts of the Capital and helping soften the impact of concrete and high-rise development.
Dr Ahmedi said rooftops represented an opportunity to introduce greenery without requiring additional land – an approach particularly suited to densely developed urban areas.
“When we build upwards, we should also think about bringing greenery upwards,” he said.
“The rooftops of high-rise buildings are valuable spaces that can be transformed from empty concrete areas into gardens that benefit residents and the wider community.”
He said the proposal would encourage developers and building owners to consider rooftop gardens as part of the design and planning of high-rise developments, taking into account technical, structural, safety and maintenance requirements.
The idea comes as Bahrain’s urban landscape continues to grow vertically, with limited space in established areas making creative approaches to introducing greenery increasingly important. Rooftop gardening is also not entirely new to Bahrain.
A 2024 UN-Habitat and FAO report highlighted rooftop farming as a way of increasing greenery in densely populated areas, noting that 40 per cent of surveyed home gardeners used their rooftops. It also highlighted the potential of rooftop farming to improve air quality, reduce heat and create green retreats in areas with limited open space.
Dr Ahmedi said the concept could eventually go beyond ornamental planting.
“Depending on the building and its design, rooftops could accommodate trees, shrubs, flowering plants and even productive gardens. What matters is creating living spaces where today we have largely unused surfaces,” he said.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah backed the proposal, saying it could complement wider efforts to make the Capital greener.
“The Capital has limited space, so we have to make better use of every opportunity to introduce greenery,” Mr Tarradah said. “Rooftop gardens could become an important part of the urban landscape, particularly as more buildings grow vertically.”
Board vice-chairwoman Dr Khoolood Al Qattan also supported the initiative, saying greener rooftops could enhance the appearance and liveability of high-density developments.
“A building does not have to end where the concrete roof begins,” she said. “With the right planning, the rooftop can become an attractive green environment that contributes to the quality of life of the people living and working below it.”
She said the proposal could encourage greenery to be considered from the earliest stages of building design, rather than being treated as an afterthought. “The proposal could ultimately help create a new dimension to Bahrain’s urban landscape – turning unused rooftops into pockets of green above the city’s concrete skyline,” stressed Dr Al Qattan.
It is not the first time initiatives like this have been aired.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah and vice-chairwoman Dr Khulood Al Qattan earlier proposed adding rooftop gardens to malls and commercial complexes utilising soil-free hydroponic techniques, or dedicated tree-lined walkways, for light exercise. It was approved as a green space requirement by Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak, who pointed out such areas would be easier to manage in the case of malls and shopping centres.
The current proposal covers high-rise buildings.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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