Completion of BFTPI project in Bahrain: concrete achievements

Renewing the country’s planning policy

The BFTPI project was set up in the context of cooperation established between France and the Kingdom of Bahrain in the field of urban planning. It aims to renew the country’s planning policy by:

• Developing a strategic plan, which sets out the country’s development orientations for the next 30 years;

• Producing regulatory documents governing the most significant urban development operations and those close to protected or sensitive areas;

• Developing a conceptual Master Plan covering 46 km of the north-east corniche of Manama and Muharraq;

• Restructuring and building the capacities of the Urban Planning and Development Authority in Bahrain.

A comprehensive and integrated approach to urban development

This operation is being conducted by a public-private consortium involving Expertise France and large French engineering and architecture firms (Arep, Egis, Setec) and reflects the way in which French cities combine public authorities and private actors from the territory in a balanced manner. BFTPI has consequently promoted an integrated approach to the city, moving towards a model of the territory in which spatial and social cohesion mutually fuel each other.

Concrete achievements

The creation of the Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA) in August 2017, the definition of its mandate and its organisation are the result of recommendations made by the BFTPI team in order to provide the country with an interministerial structure with legitimacy to manage all the sectoral problems encountered in a territory in an integrated manner. UPDA now acts as the executive arm of the Crown Prince chairing the High Committee for Urban Planning. The multisectoral mandate of this new Authority has been illustrated by an interministerial consultation from April to October 2017, conducted by BFTPI and involving most of the Government of Bahrain.

The Government of Bahrain, observing the strong growth in the territory at sea, whereas land remains available on the main island, the problems of connection to urban networks, the almost total dependence on cars and the degradation of natural environments, has set three priorities for the future development of Bahrain, with support from the BFTPI team: (i) protect natural and heritage spaces, (ii) optimise development and (iii) anticipate needs for future development operations.