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We all agree that freedom of movement is a fundamental pillar of personal liberty and human dignity. The ability to travel unhindered from place to place – whether for work, to fulfil familial duties, or simply participate in the life of a community – is a right that underpins modern society.
That makes the recent legislative murmurs and proposals aimed at restricting expatriates’ access to driving licences particularly worrying beyond merely making mobility pricier and elitist for many.
With a booming delivery and gig economy that is evident on our roads – and most of the men working these jobs are expats – adding any new driving licence procedures and costs will burden the economy, inflate costs and unnecessarily complicate a process that should remain fair and accessible to all.
For decades, expatriates have been an integral thread in the fabric of Bahraini society. It is some relief that the Shura Council has said it is not in favour of the move.
When a society begins to tier basic operational rights, it creates systemic friction. If new regulations impose restrictive eligibility criteria, the immediate consequence will be an artificial bottleneck in testing and administrative processing. Driving lessons and licensing fees will inevitably skyrocket, making getting a licence an expensive and time-consuming ordeal for the very individuals who keep essential services running.
Instead, why not review the conditions that underpin traffic gridlock? Commuters do not cause traffic simply because of their passport status; congestion is a structural challenge driven by urban density, work hours and the availability of viable transit alternatives.
Efforts should focus on practical, forward-looking solutions. Regulations ought to be made more responsive to the booming delivery and gig economy.
Delivery drivers and couriers form a crucial backbone of daily commerce in Bahrain, yet they often navigate rigid, outdated framework conditions. Tailoring rules specifically to commercial two-wheeler and light-vehicle operators – focused on safety, fair working conditions and reasonable licensing processes – would immediately improve road safety without penalising general commuters. Second, the true antidote to traffic gridlock is a robust, comfortable, and efficient public transport network.
Expanding bus routes, improving transit schedules, and investing in integrated mass transport will naturally incentivise residents – both locals and expatriates – to leave their cars at home. When public transport becomes a genuinely convenient choice, road usage balances out organically, without the need for exclusionary mandates.
These would be measures that respect Bahrainis and expats alike. Populist jargon that scapegoats foreign workers for infrastructure challenges should be shelved in favour of an inclusive ethos that originally built Bahrain’s reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking hub.