Bahrain is taking significant steps towards realizing its long-held ambition of establishing a Disney or Universal Studios-style mega tourism attraction within the kingdom. The Capital Trustees Board has approved new strategic municipal investment proposals aimed at drawing global players to Bahrain as part of its Vision 2030 goals.

During its final meeting of the current term, the Capital Trustees Board unanimously endorsed two ambitious proposals that focus on enhancing community partnerships and stimulating private sector-driven municipal development. These initiatives were presented by Dr. Abdulhassan Hassan Al Dairy, the chairman of the board’s financial, administrative and legislative committee, and include the creation of a municipal projects portfolio and the organization of an annual municipal investment forum.

Council members recognized these dual initiatives as vital for diversifying income sources, optimizing land use, improving municipal services, and aligning with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030. This vision emphasizes sustainable development led by the private sector in a competitive and equitable environment. Dr. Al Dairy expressed that the goal is to establish a dynamic system for improving municipal services through innovation, technology, and effective community engagement.

The proposed municipal portfolio aims to create a transparent and unified system for prioritizing, funding, and implementing municipal projects, with extensive participation from the private sector, civil society, and government agencies. Dr. Al Dairy outlined four main objectives: enhancing municipal services through smart solutions, improving community partnerships, boosting financial sustainability, and developing municipal projects that beautify public spaces and expand green areas.

Dr. Al Dairy highlighted the importance of community involvement in the development process, stating, “This is a pivotal step in decentralizing development and involving the community in shaping their environment.” He cited successful collaborations, such as the transformation of a narrow alley into an educational walkway, as evidence of effective community engagement.

The second proposal includes the establishment of an annual Municipal Investment Forum, which is designed to showcase investment opportunities in municipal lands and foster public-private partnerships. Mr. Tarradah emphasized that this forum is not merely a one-time event but a significant national economic opportunity that will empower the private sector in municipal development and promote sustainability through targeted investments.

The forum will be organized in collaboration with major Bahraini companies and financial institutions, including Bapco, Alba, Gulf Air, National Bank of Bahrain, Al Salam Bank, Ithmaar Bank, and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait. Mr. Tarradah noted that the aim is to attract massive investments, potentially including international projects like Disneyland or Universal Studios, saying, “Bahrain is open for business and ready to welcome global players to participate in our urban development.”

The proposals include a clear framework for managing projects under both the portfolio and the forum, which encompasses the formation of a supervisory committee with stakeholders from both public and private sectors, identification of priority projects, funding allocations, and project implementation in cooperation with relevant authorities.

Vice-chairwoman Khulood Al Qattan welcomed the approval of these initiatives and urged for quick action to bring them to fruition. She pointed out that municipal lands and facilities have remained underutilized for years and that it is time to leverage them for community benefit and economic returns.

Al Qattan highlighted that the investment forum could bridge the gap between government-led planning and market-driven solutions, marking the beginning of a new era in municipal development. The annual forum will focus on several key themes, including investment opportunities in municipal lands, public-private cooperation frameworks, innovative financing methods, and the legal frameworks governing municipal partnerships.

“These moves are consistent with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and the guidance of the wise leadership,” said Al Qattan. With formal endorsement of these proposals, attention will now shift to forming the supervisory committees and initiating preparations for the first Municipal Investment Forum, which is expected to take place in the coming months, signaling a nationwide shift towards smart, sustainable, and community-driven municipal governance.