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Parliament is moving forward with legislative amendments that would allow public buildings to be used as regulated advertising spaces – a step MPs say will generate new state revenues while ensuring full oversight and protection of public property.
The public utilities and environment affairs committee has endorsed a draft law amending Article 12 of the 1973 Advertising Law.
The amendment empowers the minister in charge to issue detailed regulations specifying where and how advertising may be permitted within public buildings or areas designated for public services.
Committee chairman MP Mohammed Al Bulooshi said the change provides a long-needed legal framework for government entities to make better use of vacant or underutilised spaces.
“For decades, the law completely prohibited advertising on public buildings, even in areas that could be safely and appropriately used,” he said. “This amendment finally gives the government the flexibility to invest these spaces responsibly while maintaining strict controls.”
Under the current law, all public buildings and service facilities are subject to a blanket advertising ban.
The new amendment introduces an exception, allowing advertising only under ministerial regulations that will outline conditions, technical standards, locations and aesthetic guidelines.
Mr Al Bulooshi stressed that the committee carefully reviewed the proposal to ensure it would not compromise the character or function of public facilities.
“We were clear that essential sites such as mosques, heritage landmarks, monuments and environmentally sensitive zones remain fully protected,” he noted. “The goal is not commercial clutter, it is targeted revenue generation through well-regulated, high-quality advertising.”
According to Parliament, the amendment will help government bodies transform unused interior and exterior spaces into revenue-generating assets, supporting the state’s broader fiscal sustainability goals.
The proposal – endorsed by three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board – will now move for a vote during Tuesday’s weekly Parliament session.
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