Tempers ran high at the Muharraq Municipal Council’s regular meeting yesterday over the rejection of applications for digital advertising displays.
Councillors pointed out inconsistencies in the approval process and the need for clear criteria and transparency from the relevant authorities.
The matter, brought to the table by several council members, centred around the decisions of the National Advertising Committee, a multi-agency body responsible for reviewing and approving applications for electronic and digital advertisement screens across Bahrain.
Muharraq Municipality director-general Khalid Al Qallaf explained that the service-oriented committee comprised representatives from multiple authorities.
“Decisions to reject applications are often based on safety-related considerations, particularly those involving road traffic and pedestrian movement,” he said, adding that while the committee had the authority to reject applications, applicants were not left without options.
“There is a formal process to appeal the committee’s decisions. Anyone whose application has been rejected has the right to file an objection and request a review,” he stated.
The council’s financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Ahmed Al Meghawi, who represents Arad, voiced his frustration with what he described as a lack of consistency in the approval process.
“There are companies whose applications for advertising screens in Muharraq have been rejected by the committee,” he said.
“Yet, we are seeing similar screens being approved and installed in other governorates at the very same time.”
He alleged ‘double standards’ in the implementation of the regulations.
“We have permits and documents that show applications with the same technical specifications, size and safety compliance that were rejected in Muharraq but approved in other places like the Capital Governorate,” he added.
Mr Al Meghawi cited several examples of large advertising screens recently erected in central Manama.
“These are screens with identical dimensions and subject to the same rules. So why are they acceptable there and not here?”
“We’re not against regulation. We’re asking for fairness. If the same screen is allowed in one governorate, there needs to be a very clear justification for why it is not allowed in another.”
Meanwhile, council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar said that as digital advertising continues to grow in popularity across Bahrain, there is an urgent need for a clear unified policy that balanced commercial development with public safety.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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