In implementation of the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to expand afforestation across Bahrain’s governorates as part of the National Afforestation Plan, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Deputy Prime Minister, planted the 14,000th tree, marking the completion of the afforestation works on Muharraq Ring Road.

The planting ceremony was attended by ministers and senior officials.

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah emphasised that the Kingdom’s afforestation initiatives, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the directives of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, embody a comprehensive national vision that aims to enhance environmental security and achieve balance between economic development and the preservation of natural resources, in line with the Kingdom’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that the visit to Muharraq aligns with the support of His Majesty the King for development in the city. He noted that the Royal directives to expedite housing projects in Muharraq, services, infrastructure, and reducing traffic congestion provide a strong foundation for the development projects taking place in the governorate, including afforestation and road beautification works.

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah pointed out that the completion of afforestation works on Muharraq Ring Road, one of the Kingdom’s largest and most modern road projects, demonstrates the integration of sustainable environmental standards into major national projects, contributing to quality of life improvements and making them advanced models that combine service efficiency with environmental considerations.

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah also commended the efforts of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in closely following up on environmental plans and initiatives aimed at achieving sustainability and preserving natural resources.

Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah further emphasised that the progress achieved by the afforestation plan since its launch in 2022 underscores the government’s determination to plant 3.6 million trees by 2035, to ensure vegetation sustainability, improve air quality, enhance biodiversity, and enrich the overall aesthetics of Bahrain’s streets and main roads.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, the Muharraq Ring Road afforestation project team, and all relevant authorities for their continued cooperation and coordination, which contributed to the success of this and other afforestation projects under the plan. He noted that this reflects the spirit of Team Bahrain in achieving strategic objectives that serve the nation and its citizens.

On his part, Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, expressed appreciation to the Deputy Prime Minister for planting the final tree of the Muharraq Ring Road project. He noted that this gesture reflects Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah’s commitment to afforestation initiatives and his ongoing support for environmental sustainability programmes.

He also highlighted the follow-up of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, in monitoring the progress of the afforestation plan and enhancing coordination among relevant entities to ensure the achievement of its goals in line with best practices.

The Muharraq Ring Road afforestation project represents approximately 9% of this year’s target under the national plan, which aims to plant more than 183,000 trees in 2025. The project utilises treated water for irrigation, with a 22-kilometre irrigation network and a pumping capacity of 120 cubic meters per hour.

The tree species planted include Hibiscus tiliaceus, neem, banyan (Ficus benghalensis), royal poinciana, and albizia lebbeck, all of which are well-suited to Bahrain’s climate.