Latest news with #CapitalTrusteesBoard
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Plan to ban SMEs in areas with poor parking rejected in Bahrain
A proposed decision to ban small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from opening businesses in areas with inadequate parking facilities has been formally rejected by the Capital Trustees Board. The debate was sparked as the board convened to discuss the approval of a new eye clinic complex in Tubli, despite existing concerns over a lack of spaces for customers in the area. While some officials raised the alarm over potential traffic congestion, the majority consensus favoured encouraging business growth. Board chairman Saleh Tarradah strongly opposed the suggestion to restrict SMEs, describing the move as counterproductive to Bahrain's broader economic development goals. From left, Mr Tarradah, Mr Al Sehli and board member Mohammed Al Abbas 'Allowing such enterprises to open is beneficial to the economic wheel of the country,' said Mr Tarradah during yesterday's meeting at the Capital Trustees Authority Complex in Manama. 'We shouldn't put hurdles or restrictions on small and medium businesses just because we want to solve the parking problem.' He explained that parking issues should not be viewed as a problem solely for new businesses to solve. Instead, he called for a national approach to infrastructure development. 'Parking is an issue that needs to be resolved on a national basis through creative and innovative solutions – not banning enterprises,' he added. Turning to the specific case of the Tubli eye clinic, Mr Tarradah dismissed concerns over inadequate parking, highlighting the unique nature of the establishment's clientele. 'Many of those with eye infections or problems don't drive and are dropped by family members,' he said. 'Also, nurses and doctors are either dropped by family or through transportation offered by the establishment.' Supporting his chairman's stance, board member Maitham Al Hayki criticised the proposed ban as short-sighted and damaging to Bahrain's entrepreneurial ecosystem. 'Ninety per cent of businesses in the bustling Seef District don't have car parks,' said Mr Al Hayki. 'So to resolve the parking matter we decide to stop small and medium businesses from opening? This is wrong and would just set us backwards.' He stressed that SMEs were vital for job creation and innovation, particularly in key urban areas where commercial spaces can be limited but economic opportunities remain abundant. Capital Trustees Authority director-general Mohammed Al Sehli argued that the board had a responsibility to take community complaints seriously, especially regarding the ongoing 'parking crisis' in residential neighbourhoods like Tubli. 'This board has an opportunity to stop a business opening near an already crowded area, which many complain already has inadequate car parking, and they don't want to stop it,' he said. His concerns were echoed by board services and public utilities committee chairwoman Huda Sultan, who emphasised the daily struggles of residents. 'People in Tubli in particular are already suffering from traffic jams and parking woes,' she said. 'We have to be mindful of the pressures we are adding to these communities.' Members vote in favour of allowing SMEs to open Despite the division within the board, the overall decision appears to reflect a clear stance favouring business development while calling for national-level urban planning solutions to solve parking challenges. The meeting highlighted a broader issue facing Bahrain's urban planning policies – the delicate balance between fostering economic growth through SME development and addressing the infrastructural demands that come with it. As the Capital Trustees Board moves forward with its agenda, the conversation around parking, traffic management and business facilitation is expected to continue – with interested parties across the country watching closely for sustainable solutions. The board's decision has been referred to Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak to forward to Housing and Urban Planning Minister Amna Al Romaihi for review.
Gulf Insider
30-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Lift Access And Braille Buttons Approved For Taller Buildings
A proposal to require wheelchair-accessible lifts and Braille-labelled buttons in buildings taller than three storeys was approved by the Capital Trustees Board during its yesterday's session. The changes would apply to both public and private buildings. They are intended to make access easier for people with physical or visual impairments, particularly in towers where stairs are not a practical option. Each affected building would need at least one lift wide enough for a wheelchair, with its controls marked in Braille. Daily movement Capital Trustees Board member Dr Bashar Ahmadi, who submitted the proposal, said it aimed to make daily movement safer and more practical for people with disabilities, including visitors to government buildings. During the meeting, board member Mubarak Al Nuaimi said the technical committee recommended limiting the requirement to buildings above five storeys. He added that new buildings should only receive a power connection once they meet the minimum accessibility criteria. Rules Mohammed Al Sahli, Director-General of the Capital Trustees Board, said public buildings such as ministries and state agencies have followed such rules for a decade. Retrofitting older structures remains a challenge, he noted. For private developments, much depends on the commercial priorities of the developer. The proposal will now be shared with the relevant planning bodies. Also read: Runaway Domestic Workers And Illegal Employer Arrested In Labour Law Violation Crackdown
Daily Tribune
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Capital Trustees Board approves mandatory soundproofing proposal for multi-storey flats
A proposal to set soundproofing standards for floors in multi-storey flats was approved by the Capital Trustees Board during its session yesterday. The plan is intended to reduce disturbances in shared buildings and encourage quieter homes. Developers would be required to meet minimum insulation levels between floors, particularly in freehold properties. Dr Bashar Ahmadi, who submitted the proposal, said noise between flats is a common complaint. He pointed to the use of poor construction materials and designs that fail to block sound. The aim, he said, is to bring in standards drawn from practices already used in other parts of the world. Expectations Mubarak Al Nuaimi, who chairs the board's technical committee, said the measure would help set clear expectations for builders and buyers alike. It would also support building managers in handling disputes and allow inspectors to assess compliance more easily. The committee recommended making soundproofing a condition for issuing permits in new freehold developments. Idea Mohammed Al Sahli, Director-General of the Capital Trustees Board, said the idea could benefit buyers but noted that such matters fall under the Urban Planning and Development Authority. He suggested soundproofing could be left as an option, allowing developers to offer both insulated and non-insulated flats. Deputy Chair woman Khalood Al Qattan supported the view that buyers should be free to choose whether they want this feature. Also during the meeting, the board reviewed a report on messages received through the Tawasul platform between September 2024 and May this year. There were 1,823 complaints, 319 enquiries and 39 suggestions.
Daily Tribune
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Lift access and Braille buttons approved for taller buildings
A proposal to require wheelchair-accessible lifts and Braille-labelled buttons in buildings taller than three storeys was approved by the Capital Trustees Board during its yesterday's session. The changes would apply to both public and private buildings. They are intended to make access easier for people with physical or visual impairments, particularly in towers where stairs are not a practical option. Each affected building would need at least one lift wide enough for a wheelchair, with its controls marked in Braille. Daily movement Capital Trustees Board member Dr Bashar Ahmadi, who submitted the proposal, said it aimed to make daily movement safer and more practical for people with disabilities, including visitors to government buildings. During the meeting, board member Mubarak Al Nuaimi said the technical committee recommended limiting the requirement to buildings above five storeys. He added that new buildings should only receive a power connection once they meet the minimum accessibility criteria. Rules Mohammed Al Sahli, Director-General of the Capital Trustees Board, said public buildings such as ministries and state agencies have followed such rules for a decade. Retrofitting older structures remains a challenge, he noted. For private developments, much depends on the commercial priorities of the developer. The proposal will now be shared with the relevant planning bodies.
Daily Tribune
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Councillors seek to prioritise Bahrainis in Manama's parking and housing plans
Councillors in Manama have called for special privileges to be granted to Bahraini residents battling daily struggles over parking spaces and overcrowding in the city's central districts. During a Capital Trustees Board meeting, chaired by Vice President Dr Kholoud Al Qattan, members spoke plainly about pressures on neighbourhoods in Manama and Qufool. At the heart of discussions were issues such as congestion, misuse of shared spaces, and unauthorised blocking of parking areas. Dr Al Qattan argued that residents, especially Bahraini families, face genuine difficulties and suggested giving them priority access to parking and housing. She added that it was understandable that local families felt squeezed by the current pressures, and urged practical steps to ease the strain. Lamya Al Fadhala, acting head of the Capital Municipality, admitted the council currently lacked a clear system to manage parking fairly. She recommended a thorough local survey and a system that would favour Bahraini residents over expatriates or caretakers accused of reserving public spaces illegally or even renting them out for profit. Sayed Faisal, the council's administrative coordinator, presented a detailed list of improvements needed in Constituency Two. His suggestions ranged from repairing playgrounds and expanding greenery, to sorting out the chaotic housing situation, clearing blocked pavements, and removing barriers causing traffic snarls. Barriers Addressing illegal parking practices specifically, Khalifa Al Kaabi, acting inspection chief, noted that council inspectors were regularly removing posts, cones, and barriers placed illegally to reserve parking. He clarified that only obstacles set up without official permits from the Ministry of Works were being cleared. Council member Dr Abdulhassan Abbas rounded off discussions by urging colleagues to give renewed attention to Manama's traditional Bahraini character, pressing the council to protect the capital's heritage from fading amid growing urban pressures.
