28 January 2021
H.E Shaikha Mai Visits Pearling Path Pedestrian Bridge, H.E: We continue our plan to develop Bahrain’s historical cities and preserve our urban and cultural identity
H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, visited, on 28 f January 2021, the pedestrian bridge at the “Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy” registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, on the occasion of the completion of its construction.
H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the President of the BACA, said “Today, we witness another new key landmark being completed in the city of Muharraq as part of our efforts to finish all parts of Pearling Path project. The bridge restores the historical link between the different locations of the Path and the shores of the Bu Maher Fort, as well as an additional channel of communication between Muharraq residents and their visitors with regard to the historical pearling industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain”.
H.E added saying: “This year is dedicated to Pearling Path, whereby we will endeavor to revive and revisit our tangible and intangible heritage related to the pearling industry, which shaped Muharraq’s city identity and history”. H.E also asserted that Bahrain Culture Authority will continue to implement its plans and projects aimed at developing Bahrain’s historical cities ad safeguard the cultural and urban identity.
The length of the pedestrian bridge on the Pearling Path site is 165.2 meters. Indeed, Bahrain Culture Authority begun construction at the end of July of last year to connect the Bu Maher Fort, the beginning of the Pearling Path site, with the rest of the pathway, which extends for a distance of approximately 3.5 km inside the historic city of Muharraq.
The pedestrian bridge, located at the southern end of the Pearling Path, will enhance visitor experiences, as they will be able to continue their journey through the trail by crossing over the Khalifa Al Kabeer Highway, thus restoring the historical link between the Old City and the shores of the Bu Maher Fort.
The bridge will be open with the Bu Maher Fort between 12:00pm and 6:00pm, while the bridge will serve the residents of Muharraq to cross the Khalifa Al Kabeer Highway around the clock.
The bridge was designed by Kresten Geers and David Van Severen in collaboration with Ismael Khonji Architects, and carried out by Al-Ghanim International General Trading & Contracting.
Worth to mention that the “Pearling path: Testimony of an Island Economy” is the Second cultural landmark in Bahrain inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List Site. The Pearling Path extends for about 3 kilometers, starting from the pearling sites (known locally as “hayrat”) near Bu Maher Fort, South of Muharraq, to Siyadi House and Mosque in the heart of historical city of Muharraq.
This amazing Pealing Path takes visitors on a journey from the Bu Maher along many urban landmarks, evoking sweet memories and dazzling stories of pealing industry heydays in Bahrain. It is made up of 16 historical heritage buildings, a number of public spaces, as well as the main Visitor Center, which interior design is a reflection and embodiment of the famous historical Amarat Youssef Bin Abdulrahman Fakhro, which was built in the 1930s.
