Bahrain is planning to build a floating market near one of its historical forts if it can obtain UNESCO permission to start construction at the world heritage site, it was reported.
The project, which will be the Gulf state’s first floating market, will include a port, a boat market, traditional cafes and seafront restaurants, according to a report by the Gulf Daily News.
A major obstacle is the fact the planned site is also home to a 4,000-year-old fort, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 2005 and has a ban in place preventing any construction which could obstruct the historical site.
The Manama and Northern Municipal Councils are seeking support from the Culture Ministry to get the scheme approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the report said.
“The place lacks the extra appeal that makes it a proper tourist destination despite being rich with world historical significance,” Manama Municipal Council vice-chairman and area councillor Mohammed Mansoor was quoted as saying.
“For that we had to come up with ideas for tourist attractions that don’t harm the fort’s world heritage status… We want to have a floating market where vendors would sell their goods… Having boats in the sea surrounding the fort would be a revival of one of the fort’s original features,” he added.
A decision from Unesco is currently pending, but 40 businessmen who own land in the area have given permission for the project.
Follow us on
