Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Alongside Chairman of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Oversee Restoration of Historic Municipal Building – Manama

H.E. Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, conducted an inspection visit to the restoration project of the historic Municipal Building in Manama. The visit aimed to review the progress of work, which has now exceeded 60% completion.

During the visit, H.E. Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak highlighted that the restoration of Manama’s historic Municipal Building embodies Bahrain’s pride in its cultural heritage and its century-long municipal legacy, tracing back to the establishment of the pioneering municipal system in Manama in 1919—the first municipality in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The Minister highlighted the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to preserve the building’s historic character and cultural identity. He noted that restoring the building in accordance with the highest standards of architectural conservation represents an investment in the nation’s collective memory and safeguards a landmark reflecting Bahrain’s leading regional and Arab position in municipal work.

H.E. also pointed out that coordination with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities continues to ensure the preservation of the building’s cultural and historical details, contributing to the protection of historical landmarks and their integration into sustainable development plans.

For his part, Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa stressed the significance of the restoration project, noting that it documents more than a century of municipal work in Bahrain. He affirmed that highlighting the building’s original features will support efforts to preserve and document Manama’s historical and architectural heritage, which the Authority seeks to register on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The Chairman further praised the fruitful coordination between the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, which enhances the implementation of additional architectural projects that strengthen the Kingdom’s cultural infrastructure.