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H.E Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, has reiterated and lauded the national efforts aimed to preserve the significant elements of the architectural cultural identity in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as decreed by Edict Resolution No. 56 of 2022. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning, May God protect him, today issued Edict (56) of 2022, promulgating the issuance of Zoning Regulations for Construction across the Kingdom of Bahrain, based on the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning's proposal and following Cabinet approval. BACA’s President added that this decision embodies a true representation of national policies for the development of urban planning.

H.E, the President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities also said: “The importance of this decision lies in the fact that it enables and gives the Culture Authority the legal tools, which are necessary to safeguard and conserve the originality and authenticity of the ancient history of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The new regulatory legal terms go further to enable investment and development in urban areas in accordance with international standards, and encourage the creation of a permanent cultural economy that invests in the country's historical aspects and features.” H.E added saying: “Under this Edict decision, the future cultural strategy guarantees cultural governance to manage all historical areas, and allows for the regulation of relations between the public and private sectors and the owners of cultural and historical properties from the local community in order to achieve growth and prosperity”.

With regard to the Minister of Housing and Urban Planning’s issuing edicts endorsing the detailed urban zoning maps in various regions of the Kingdom, especially the five classifications of historical areas, which were announced during the press conference, held last Thursday regarding the regulatory requirements in the various regions of the Kingdom of Bahrain, H.E, the President of Bahrain Antiquities and Antiquities Authority explained that this the first time that such regulatory organizational zoning procedures, as regulated by Decree No. (11) Of 1995 regarding the Protection of Antiquities. Indeed, the heritage areas include a special classification for archaeological sites, the classification of historical gardens, and the special classification of urban heritage areas. In addition to these classifications of historical areas, the regulatory requirements depend on a special classification of buildings inscribed on the list of National Heritage.

In this context, H.E Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa explained that the approved Zoning Regulations for Construction across the Kingdom of Bahrain with regard to cultural protection entitle and give the Culture Authority today real opportunities to conduct extensive studies to explore opportunities for cultural investment in historical cities. This can be implemented successfully by offering qualitative privileges to owners of cultural properties that have a unique historical value. Indeed, the new zoning regulations for construction across the Kingdom of Bahrain will enable cultural properties’ owners to invest culturally, administratively, educational and tourism in these assets, as well as real estate owners to contribute effectively to building a sustainable cultural economy.