Media Center

H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al- Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities welcomed, on 14 November 2021, his Excellency Dr. Esam Khalaf, Minister of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning. The meeting discussed and reviewed the latest developments with regard to a number of projects aimed to enhance the cultural-urban infrastructure ventures in both cities of Muharraq and Manama.

H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa praised the efforts taken by the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning in promoting the infrastructure of many historical cities in the Kingdom of Bahrain. H.E also stressed the importance of synergized efforts to preserve the kingdom’s civilizational achievements, turning culture into a key factor and major source of source of sustainable development.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the rehabilitation of Manama Municipality, launched during the festivities celebrating 100 years of Bahrain’s municipal action works in 2019, given that preserving historic buildings is crucial to retaining a nation’s heritage and history. Working teams from both sides have resumed their concerted efforts to restore the visual identity of the an intrinsic historical and educational value of the building, in terms of architecture, interior design and decoration, as well as past standards of living and the way of life of people from years gone by. The restoration team took into consideration three main topics: the general architectural design, the preservation of the materials, and the structural strengthening. In addition, the meeting also shed lights on ‘ Ain Al Saya” site, whereby the Culture authority gave a presentation on its future vision and plan of action with regard to excavations, any potential artefacts to be unearthed or major historical components to be taken into consideration before initiating any development projects at the site. The final goals were to pursue the restoration, maintenance and overall refurbishment of the site, preserving the architectural nature of the original materials and applying non-invasive but efficient structural solutions.

H.E stressed the need and importance of communication between the different entities, the cooperation to support cultural infrastructure and spearhead a number of projects, including the rehabilitation, renovation and restauration of Manama Industrial School, which is considered one of the most important historical cultural symbols and heritage landmarks in Bahrain. Restoring the visual façade identity and renovations should be acknowledged for adding value as past heritage and the simultaneous incorporation of present and future values, making it a center of creative industries in the region, the meeting agreed. Moreover, both parties discussed the latest development works at Shaikh Abdullah Boulevard and Shaikh Hamad Avenue in Muharraq, aimed to enhance and develop the cultural infrastructure in the historical city.

H.E Esam Khalaf, Minister of Works, for his part, lauded BACA’s efforts to preserve and safeguard the urban historical heritage of Bahrain’s iconic genuine cities, praising BACA’s role in preserving Bahrain’s historical and urban heritage. Dr Khalaf also lauded BACA’s strategy to make Bahrain a pioneering cultural hub and preferred destination regionally and internationally, voicing his readiness to cooperate with the Authority with regard to future cultural projects.