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Mohammed Al-Sahli, director general of Bahrain’s Northern Municipality, announced the designation of 289 sites for mobile food trucks throughout the four governorates as part of efforts to organise the sector. Operators face a six-month grace period that runs concurrently with a public awareness campaign and concludes in January 2027, after which adherence to all organising conditions becomes compulsory. The municipality will enforce removal of unauthorised structures for those who fail to comply, Al-Sahli stated in the briefing that also responded to calls from Northern Municipal Council members for expanded locations and simplified procedures.
Reservations for the designated sites can be completed through an electronic platform, either at no cost or for a nominal fee, according to the Northern Municipality’s disclosure. In the Northern Governorate, 50 sites lie on municipal land adjacent to the Sheikh Khalifa Street extension while 28 occupy the southern side of the Abu Subh coastline and 25 run along the Malkiya coast. Muharraq Governorate accounts for 50 sites beside the Busaiteen Corniche, 40 near the Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Bridge and 15 between Amwaj and Diyar, the official inventory detailed.
The Capital Governorate features 20 sites at the Sitra walkway and 10 at Ain Qasari under the same allocation plan outlined by Al-Sahli on September 28, 2026. The remaining sites complete the nationwide total of 289, with the Southern Governorate included in the distribution although specific counts for that area were not itemised in the presentation. All locations were selected to avoid traffic obstructions, residential conflicts and safety hazards, in line with prior municipal guidelines.
The announcement forms part of a longer regulatory push that began with Decision No. 38 of 2020, which assigned the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture responsibility for setting trading locations while other bodies issue operating licences. An electronic booking system for food-truck sites has been under preparation since at least early 2026, the ministry told parliament in a written reply reported by Gulf Insider. That system will allow owners to apply for preferred locations once final procedures are completed.
Food truck activity remains restricted to Bahraini nationals, who must secure commercial registration through Sijilat, obtain Ministry of Health approval for vehicle design and gain municipal clearance for each operating spot, according to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce requirements updated in 2026. Earlier parliamentary estimates placed the number of licensed food trucks at roughly 500, supporting approximately 500 families across the kingdom. Regular inspections already occur to verify hygiene, spacing and electrical standards at existing sites.
A six-month compliance deadline had been communicated to operators as early as June 2026, with authorities warning of action against urban clutter and safety violations, Gulf Digital News reported at the time. The latest municipal disclosure builds on August 2026 identification of eight initial public locations that were expected to expand. Operators must also maintain written owner consent where applicable and observe minimum distances from junctions, roundabouts and traffic signals under the standing rules.
