The famous Falcon Monument is set to come crashing down and be replaced by a replica, in another location, as part of major road construction developments near Bahrain International Airport (BIA) ... unless money can be set aside to relocate it in one piece.
Four options have been presented by the Works Ministry to the Muharraq Municipal Council regarding the future of the iconic structure and will be discussed later this week.
Ministry officials warned councillors that placing the existing stone falcon on a raised pedestal, as originally proposed, could cause the ageing structure to crack or collapse.
An artist’s impression of the new airport road network
As a result, the council has been asked to consider four alternatives:
n Demolishing the monument and replacing it with a fibreglass replica.
n Demolishing it without a replacement.
n Relocating the original monument to another visible location, at high cost.
n Abandoning both the monument and its current site in favour of installing a replica elsewhere.
The debate follows the demolition of the 50-year-old Waterfall Monument, which has already been bulldozed as part of the third phase of the Airport Road Development Project.
The monuments, once located on opposite sides of Khalifa Al Kabeer Avenue, were identified as major obstacles to the construction of a new flyover designed to ease congestion and improve access to the airport.
While the Waterfall Monument has now been completely removed, officials last year suggested the Falcon Monument would not be destroyed and announced plans to relocate it to a nearby location. Now, the cost, although not stated, appears to have ruled out the option.
The Waterfall Monument’s site after being demolished
“This is not a decision taken lightly,” said airport area MP Mohammed Al Olaiwi. “I have received dozens of calls from people praising the move, and from a few others who are upset about the monuments being affected. My position is very clear – accessibility comes before monuments.”
Mr Al Olaiwi
Mr Al Olaiwi acknowledged the emotional value of the landmarks but stressed that national infrastructure needs must take priority. “That doesn’t mean I am disregarding their significance,” he said. “The Waterfall or Falcon could be rebuilt as replicas, much like the Pottery Monument in A’ali or the Bahrain Map Monument.”
He added that there was broad political agreement on the issue. “This is part of a wider vision to modernise Bahrain’s gateway to the world,” he said. “It’s about smoother, safer and faster access to one of our most critical transit hubs.”
The now gone Waterfall
Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar said the stone structures, and similar landmarks, could be constructed in the future, if needed. “The cost of elevating the Falcon is extremely high so we collectively decided that demolishing it and replacing it with a replica was the most practical option. Sometimes, the greater good must prevail.”
Mr Al Naar
Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj earlier outlined a wide-ranging package of infrastructure upgrades linked to the project, including a left-turn flyover at the Falcon junction, reclamation works around Arad Bay, a new culvert, pedestrian ramps, storm drainage systems, safety and noise barriers, landscaping, street lighting and road markings. The Arad Highway will become a free-flowing corridor, eliminating traffic lights from the airport direction to Arad.
Mr Al Hawaj
Parliament’s public utilities and environment affairs committee chairman Mohammed Al Bulooshi also voiced support for replacing the Falcon with a replica mounted on a pedestal, describing it as a reasonable compromise between preserving heritage and enabling progress.
Mr Al Bulooshi
The project, he added, marks a significant step in transforming airport access and modernising Bahrain’s transport infrastructure for decades to come.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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