Bahrain is set to introduce a new digital platform that will allow mobile food truck operators to reserve and operate from pre-approved locations across the kingdom. The system, being developed by the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, will enable food truck owners to apply electronically to book designated sites once the procedures are finalised.
In a written response to Parliament, Minister Wael Al Mubarak explained that the ministry’s role is to regulate where mobile food vehicles can operate, while operating licences are issued by another authority. Initial locations have already been identified nationwide and will be announced when applications officially open.
Under the new framework, food truck operators will be required to obtain written consent from property owners and approval from the relevant municipality when operating on municipal land. The regulations prohibit parking within street right-of-ways or directly in front of residential buildings and impose minimum distance requirements from junctions, roundabouts, traffic signals, and neighbouring vehicles.
Additional rules cover safety and community considerations, including proper electrical connections, waste disposal, compliance with Civil Defence requirements, and measures to prevent noise disturbance. For residential zones, trading hours will be limited from 6am to midnight, with trucks required to vacate the area outside these hours and remove all equipment.
The minister also confirmed that 18 mobile food vehicles have been approved to operate on municipally owned properties. Separately, Bahrain currently has around 31 licensed street vendors, with licences issued steadily between 2023 and 2025 and one suspension recorded for planning violations.
