sustainability
Article
Elevating Cultural Preservation Projects into Urban
Regeneration: A Case Study of Bahrain’s Pearling Trail
Haifa Tawfeeq Naseeb, Jongoh Lee






Citation: Naseeb, H.T.; Lee, J.; Choi,
H. Elevating Cultural Preservation
Projects into Urban Regeneration: A
Case Study of Bahrain’s Pearling Trail.
Sustainability 2021, 13, 6629. https://
doi.org/10.3390/su13126629
Academic Editor: Chiara Garau
Received: 5 May 2021
Accepted: 7 June 2021
Published: 10 June 2021
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral
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iations.
Copyright: © 2021 by the authors.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
4.0/).
Sustainability 2021, 13, 6629. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126629
and Heejae Choi *
Graduate School, Global Culture & Contents, College of Education, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies,
Seoul 02450, Korea; haifanaseeb@gmail.com (H.T.N.); santon@hufs.ac.kr (J.L.)
* Correspondence: hjchoi@hufs.ac.kr; Tel.: +82-10-9170-9430
Abstract: The island of Muharraq in the Kingdom of Bahrain was previously in a state of socioe-
conomic disrepair and neglect, until the nine years-long “Pearling Trail” project revived the area.
Historically, Muharraq’s importance inheres in it being the main trade center of the Middle East since
the Mesopotamian period, especially as the source of the finest pearls in the world. However, the
discovery of oil that led to the rapid urbanization of the region and Japan perfecting the production of
cultured pearls had meant that Muharraq dwindled out of cultural significance. Due to the residents’
dissatisfaction and nostalgia for the island’s past glory, along with the government’s new policies
towards cultural preservation, the “Pearling Trail” Project commenced in 2012. The Ministry of
Culture of Bahrain repaired, renovated and preserved an area of 3.5 km, transforming it into an
eco-museum with a thriving business and cultural community. The transformation of the island
elevated the city into a trendy local attraction, hosting local and global cultural festivals and events,
owing to the “Pearling Trail’s” Urban Regeneration Project’s success. By studying the “Pearling Trail”
three success factors are identified: Project expansion beyond UNESCO preservation requirements,
focus on sustainability and continuous use, and improved access to culture and cultural opportunities.
Identifying these factors could allow for future preservation projects in Bahrain or elsewhere to be
upgraded for urban regeneration or revitalization.
Keywords: Bahrain; Muharraq; Pearling Trail; urban regeneration; Eco Museum
1. Introduction
The Kingdom of Bahrain’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Pearling Trail
located on the island of Muharraq. This site is distinguished from others by the Bahraini
government’s success in elevating it from cultural reservation to an urban regeneration
project. The most significant accomplishment of Bahrain Pearling Trail regeneration project
is how it revitalized Muharraq, combining historic storytelling of the region’s pearl industry
with cultural preservation while generating direct economic benefits [1]. Bahrain’s first
UNESCO World Heritage Site, as Qal’at al-Bahrain, also known as the Bahrain Fort or the
Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun, was awarded the title in 2005, pales in comparison
to the Pearling Trail in terms of socioeconomic impact. At the time, the award of such a
title was an outstanding achievement, yet it did little more than add another name to the
must-visit list of tourists who happen to stop by Bahrain. Although the fort faces a beach
and has a spectacular ocean view, yet efforts to make the area more tourist-friendly have
not gone beyond small museum with a modest semi-traditional café. Despite its location
close to the central shopping district in Bahrain, it stands isolated. Most of the attraction
basis of the site relies on local endeavors to host small family festivals, inviting food trucks
to the area, and privately-owned horse-riding activities, all of which are not advertised to
tourists, maintaining a visitor populace of locals only.
Thus, with the Pearling Trail Project the main challenge was to expand the goal
from merely obtaining the UNESCO Site title that may generate global fame for a limited
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability
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Thus, with the Pearling Trail Project the main challenge was to expand the goal from
merely obtaining the UNESCO Site title that may generate global fame for a limited
amountofoftime
amount timeand
andinstead
insteadcreate
createaaproject
projectthat
thatachieves
achievescultural
culturalpreservation
preservationasaswell
wellasas
socioeconomicrevitalization
socioeconomic revitalizationthat
thatbenefits
benefitsmultiple
multiplestakeholders.
stakeholders.ByBycorrect
correctidentification
identification
of renovation, preservation, and development opportunities along with full
of renovation, preservation, and development opportunities along with full cooperation cooperation
between various governmental bodies and the local community the project
between various governmental bodies and the local community the project has superseded has super-
seded the status of a historical site into becoming a key player in the area’s cultural
the status of a historical site into becoming a key player in the area’s cultural rebirth. rebirth.
A
model for upgrading a cultural preservation project to achieve urban regeneration can can
A model for upgrading a cultural preservation project to achieve urban regeneration be
be established
established by studying
by studying this this project’s
project’s progress.
progress.

2.2.History:
History:Centuries
Centuriesof
ofPearl
PearlDiving
Divingand
andTrade
Trade
Locatedininthe
Located theArabian
Arabian Gulf,
Gulf, thethe archipelago
archipelago of the
of the Kingdom
Kingdom of Bahrain
of Bahrain is famous
is famous for
being a historic
for being tradetrade
a historic pointpoint
alongalong
with with
its rich
its pearl fisheries.
rich pearl Part of
fisheries. PartDilmun
of Dilmunduring the
during
Bronze
the BronzeAge, present-time
Age, present-timeBahrain’s location
Bahrain’s made itmade
location the top trading
it the destination.
top trading It linkedIt
destination.
the Indus
linked theValley
Indusand Mesopotamia
Valley and was known
and Mesopotamia and was since
knownthen since
for highthen quality
for highpearls [2].
quality
Throughout its history, Bahrain was ruled by different empires
pearls [2]. Throughout its history, Bahrain was ruled by different empires and referred toand referred to by many
different
by manynames, yet names,
different what remain constant
yet what remain is its flourishing
constant is itspearling
flourishingindustry.
pearlingSpecifically,
industry.
the island citythe
Specifically, of Muharraq
island citywas the main point
of Muharraq was the for trading
main point and for
producing
tradingpearl products,
and producing
as the third
pearl largest
products, as city and the
the third island’s
largest citycapital
and the until 1932 capital
island’s [2]. While
until the Gulf[2].
1932 region
While asthe
a
whole was famed
Gulf region for its was
as a whole pearls, Bahraini
famed for itspearls
pearls, were, and continue
Bahraini to be,and
pearls were, higher in quality
continue to be,
and approximately
higher in quality and 40%approximately
more expensive 40% tomore
buy [3]. Duringtothe
expensive golden
buy age of Bahrain’s
[3]. During the golden
pearling industry, this level of quality attracted world renowned
age of Bahrain’s pearling industry, this level of quality attracted world renowned jeweler Jacques Cartier,
jeweler
who continuously
Jacques Cartier, who visited Muharraq visited
continuously from 1910 to 1923 and
Muharraq fromwas 1910heavily
to 1923 influenced
and was by the
heavily
Arab and Eastern lifestyle, allowing it to inspire his art-deco designs
influenced by the Arab and Eastern lifestyle, allowing it to inspire his art-deco designs (Figure 1) [4]. Thus,
as a trade1)center,
(Figure the as
[4]. Thus, Muharraq marketplace,
a trade center, the Muharraqor ‘souq’ in Arabic, or
marketplace, developed
‘souq’ in into
Arabic,a hub de-
ofveloped
international trade and business. Cafes that served traditional tea
into a hub of international trade and business. Cafes that served traditional tea and snacks nestled
alongside
and snacks jewelry
nestledshops, clothing
alongside stores,
jewelry and sweets
shops, clothing shops,
stores, catering to theshops,
and sweets tradesmen whoto
catering
would need a meeting spot to discuss trade and then purchase
the tradesmen who would need a meeting spot to discuss trade and then purchase souve- souvenirs before traveling
back
nirs home
before[5].traveling back home [5].

Figure1.1.1911,
Figure 1911,Jacques
JacquesCartier
Cartierininaameeting
meetingwith
withBahraini
Bahrainipearl
pearlmerchants.
merchants.(Smith,
(Smith,2015).
2015).

However,three
However, threeglobal
globalevents
eventsininthe
the1930s
1930sinitiated
initiatedthe
thedownfall
downfallofofthe
theBahraini
Bahrainipearl
pearl
industry: A
industry: A depression
depression following
following the
the first
first World
WorldWar Warthat
thatreduced
reducedglobal
globaldemand
demandfor for
expensivejewelry,
expensive jewelry,including
includingpearls,
pearls,the
thediscovery
discoveryofofoil
oilon
onthe
theisland
islandredirected
redirectedeconomic
economic
investments,and
investments, andthe
theperfection
perfectionofofcultured
culturedpearls
pearlsbybyJapan.
Japan.TheThelast
lastone
oneheld
heldthe
themost
most
influence,
influence,with
withthe
theBahraini
Bahrainigovernment
governmentgoing goingasasfar
faras
asprohibiting
prohibitingthe theimport,
import,transport,
transport,
sale,
sale,possession,
possession,or
ormanufacture
manufactureofofcultured
culturedpearls
pearlsinin1930
1930asasKing’s
King’sRegulation
RegulationNo.1
No.1ofof
that year. Regardless of the local ban, the global demand for cheaper cultured
that year. Regardless of the local ban, the global demand for cheaper cultured pearls pearls hadhad
a
direct impact on the merchants, ship captains, nearly 30,000 pearl divers, and by extension,
Muharraq as a whole, plunging them into financial difficulty [6].
Sustainability 2021, 13, 6629 3 of 9

The downfall of the traditional pearling industry fueled the ambition to modernize the
city Muharraq, which was urbanized during the 1950s and 1960s through land reclamation
on the waterfront, widening roads, and incorporating new motorways [6]. For the most
part, Muharraq maintained the basic layout of a traditional Islamic town as per custom in
the region. Still, the modernization of traditional houses and construction of new buildings
to provide low-cost housing for the Bahraini lower or middle classes posed a severe
challenge to the conservation of the historical urban architecture. As noted by historians,
it appears that the government did not realize the historic significance of the area until
the 1980s, and quickly took legislative preventative measures to preserve the buildings in
the area [7]. Nonetheless, this led to a further decline of the area due to three factors: first,
many traditional buildings were unlivable as they were in desperate need of renovation.
Second, the government had limited any changes to only the buildings’ interior as per
conservation laws, leading to haphazard modernization work. Finally, the combination of
these two factors together along with the oil boom drove the original inhabitants out of the
area, leading owners to sublease these buildings to Southeast Asian migrant laborers at low
cost as many of the buildings were inhabitable [8]. With a growing population of low-class
laborers and patchy regulations that allowed multistory buildings to spring up randomly
in the area, the once glorious ‘souq’ became a destination for buying cheap wares and small
businesses catering to low-income immigrants [7].

3. Decision: Recovering the Pearl

Despite the governments’ best intentions in the past, lack of overall planning hindered
genuine preservation and regeneration of the area. The government had made significant
efforts to preserve the pearling industry in Bahrain, by banning cultured pearls and creating
pearl authentication labs. However, this effort did not extend to the customer facing
platform, the souq itself [9]. Additionally, practitioners of the pearl trade and remaining
residents of the area found themselves longing for the glorious past, as they found the old
souq overcrowded by low skill laborers and the place itself marred with wires and badly
placed modern fixings [9]. Simultaneously, the demographic change to the area attracted
beggars and common muggers [10]. Residents filed complaints and filled newspapers with
grievances as their petitions to rebuild or fix the traditional buildings were rejected due to
preservation laws [10,11].
In 2006, due to the continuous complaints about the unlivable state of the buildings, the
government had plans to tear down all the traditional buildings in the area and build a new
shopping mall. However, a protest to this plan headed by Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed
Al-Khalifa, present Minister of Culture, succeeded in stopping this from happening [12].
The government’s prior acknowledgment of this area’s historical and cultural significance
is evident through the heavy preservation laws, funding of archaeological teams to study
the area and the renovation of Sheikh Isa House starting in the 1970s [7]. However, the
leadership of Shaikha Mai Al-Khalifa would organize these efforts more effectively and
expand the project to revitalize the island.
Hence, the consistent nudging of residents and people in the pearl industry, alongside
a governmental recognition of the cultural value that could support the tourism vision for
Bahrain, led to the start of the Pearling Trail project.

4. Development: A Combination of Efforts

As mentioned before, conservation and development efforts were previously atomistic,
functioning on a micro-level only without a proper macro-level goal. Furthermore, efforts
focused only on preservation and protecting the past without giving life to it again. The
primary pearl diving seashore and the individual sites in Muharraq all have national
protection as designated national monuments since 2010 under the Ministry of Culture.
Moreover, the three oyster beds and their marine buffer zone were generally protected
since 2011 at a national level as per a legislative decree that designates these types of sites
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Moreover, the three oyster beds and their marine buffer zone were generally protected
since 2011 at a national level as per a legislative decree that designates these types of sites
asnational
as nationalmarine
marineprotected
protectedareas
areasunder
underthe theFisheries
FisheriesDirectorate
DirectorateandandSupreme
SupremeCouncil
Council
forthe
for theEnvironment
Environment[13]. [13].
OnMay
On May2008,
2008,Bahrain
Bahrainofficially
officiallysubmitted
submittedMuharraq’s
Muharraq’spearling
pearlingindustry
industryareas
areastotobebe
includedon
included onthe
thetentative
tentativelist
listfor
forUNESCO
UNESCOWorld WorldHeritage
HeritageSiteSiteunder
underthe thetitle
title“Pearling”
“Pearling”
(Figure2).
(Figure 2). In 2010 UNESCO
UNESCO asked askedBahrain
Bahraintotoexpand
expandupon uponthis
thisproposal
proposal with
withdetails
detailsre-
regarding
garding the theproject’s
project’sphasing
phasing and and implementation, arrangement of the the urban
urbanbuildings,
buildings,
the
themethodology
methodology for foroptimizing
optimizing the the preservation
preservation of of the
the original
original fabric
fabric of
ofthe
thecity,
city,and
and
information
informationon onthe
thenecessary
necessaryskills
skillsthat
thatwill
willbe beutilized
utilizedininthe
therestoration
restorationofofthe thedecorative
decorative
woodwork
woodworkand andplasterwork
plasterwork [14]. By By 2012,
2012, Bahrain
Bahrainreturned
returnedwithwithfull
fulldetails
detailsononconserva-
conser-
vation
tion andandmanagement
management processes,
processes, architectural
architectural andand urban
urban conservation,
conservation, initiatives
initiatives forfor
ca-
capacity building and minor extension of the boundaries. Leading
pacity building and minor extension of the boundaries. Leading on this project, the Min-on this project, the
Ministry of Culture
istry of Culture hashas managed
managed to identify
to identify thethe heritage
heritage importance
importance of more
of more thanthan
justjust
the
the three
three off-shore
off-shore oyster
oyster beds,
beds, by by including
including a part
a part of the
of the seashore
seashore at the
at the southern
southern tiptip of
of the
the island
island as as well
well asas seventeenbuildings
seventeen buildingsthatthatform
formananessential
essential part
part of
of the
the urban
urbanfabric
fabricofof
Muharraq
Muharraq[15]. [15].

Figure2.2. A
Figure A map
map of
of the
thePearling
PearlingTrail
TrailProject,
Project,detailing
detailingthe
thethree oyster
three beds,
oyster 17 17
beds, buildings, andand
buildings, sea-
shore. (UNESCO).
seashore. (UNESCO).

Theinclusion
The inclusion of multiple
multiple historical
historicalbuildings
buildingslocated
locatedinin a bustling
a bustling shopping
shopping andandres-
idential area
residential introduced
area introduced a complex
a complex newnew
dimension
dimensionto theto project, evolving
the project, fromfrom
evolving an envi-
an
ronmental preservation project to a historical and
environmental preservation project to a historical and cultural cultural conservation and restoration
and restoration
projectthat
project thatspanned
spanned3.5 3.5km.
km.Beyond
Beyondthe theitems
itemslisted
listedininthe
theUNESCO
UNESCOsubmission,
submission,Bahrain
Bahrain
decided
decided to to expand the the project
projecttotoinclude
includea further
a further 12 12 buildings,
buildings, the the establishment
establishment of
of mul-
multiple
tiple open open spaces,
spaces, car car parks
parks for for residents
residents andand visitors
visitors to the
to the area,
area, andand renovation
renovation of
of 750
750
househouse facades.
facades. ThisThis decision
decision pushed
pushed the budget
the budget forproject
for the the project
fromfrom
$39.7$39.7 million
million to
to $47.9
$47.9
millionmillion
[16]. [16].
To
Toaccomplish
accomplishsuch suchaafeat,
feat,direct
directpartnership
partnershipwithwithan anexpert
expertwaswasrequired
requiredand andstep-
step-
ping
ping in was Britta Rudolff, a UNESCO World Affairs counselor who took on therole
in was Britta Rudolff, a UNESCO World Affairs counselor who took on the roleofof
heritage
heritageadvisor
advisor toto the
the Bahraini government
government [17].[17]. Furthermore,
Furthermore,the theadded
addedinvolvement
involvementof
of1212government
governmentbodies bodiesandandheavy
heavyreliance
relianceon on owners
owners of of the
the homes
homes andand people
peoplefromfromthe the
pearl trading industry for their cooperation, feedback and support in terms
pearl trading industry for their cooperation, feedback and support in terms of information of information
and
andresources required an
resources required anadvanced
advancedlevellevelofof communication
communication andand organization
organization [18,19].
[18,19]. Ad-
Additionally,
ditionally, Bahrain’s decision to hire a mobility consultant to identify pedestrianspaces
Bahrain’s decision to hire a mobility consultant to identify pedestrian spaces
and parking spaces while accounting for cultural habits, the overall layout and climate
factors is emblematic of the government’s plans for Muharraq [20].
Sustainability 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW 5 of 9

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and parking spaces while accounting for cultural habits, the overall layout and climate
factors is emblematic of the government’s plans for Muharraq [20].
The project
The projectbegan
began by byfirst
firstrenovating
renovatingand andrefurbishing
refurbishingthe the17 17buildings
buildingslisted,
listed,from
from
simplehomes
simple homesand andshops
shopstoto big
big palaces
palaces andand mosques.
mosques. TheThe Shaikh
Shaikh Ebrahim
Ebrahim Bin Moham-
Bin Mohammed
med al-Khalifa
al-Khalifa house house was rebuilt
was rebuilt and converted
and converted into a for
into a Center Center for Culture
Culture and Research
and Research in 2002,
in 2002,
and under andtheunder
Ministrythe Ministry
of Culture, of became
Culture,thebecame the key manager
key manager of renovation
of renovation and cultural and
culturalin
projects projects
the area.in the area. Through
Through the Center’s
the Center’s work with work with establishing
establishing community community
centers and cen-
cafés, it iscafés,
ters and apparent that Center’s
it is apparent thatgoal is to engage
Center’s inengage
goal is to “soft” initiatives as opposed
in “soft” initiatives astoopposed
“hard”
initiatives
to “hard” such as physical
initiatives such restoration
as physicalwork as per Shaikha
restoration work as Mai’s vision [12].
per Shaikha Mai’sFor example,
vision [12].
while the Center
For example, itself
while themaintained
Center itself a large part ofaits
maintained original
large part ofhistorical architecture,
its original historical itarchi-
has
been mainly
tecture, it hasrebuilt
been to accommodate
mainly rebuilt toa accommodate
public hall for local art and
a public hallculture events
for local (Figure
art and 3).
culture
Moreover, by upholding
events (Figure 3). Moreover,a restoration
by upholdingpolicy focused notpolicy
a restoration on thefocused
preservation
not onofthecultural
preser-
heritage
vation ofincultural
its existing state in
heritage butitsinstead identifying
existing and anticipating
state but instead identifying active
anduse of historical
anticipating ac-
buildings, the adaptive re-utilization of these traditional structures
tive use of historical buildings, the adaptive re-utilization of these traditional played a vital role in
structures
elevating the Pearling
played a vital Trail intothe
role in elevating an Pearling
urban regeneration
Trail into anproject
urban[12]. Most noteworthy
regeneration project [12].is
how
Mostthese initiatives
noteworthy prioritized
is how utilization prioritized
these initiatives by local residents above
utilization bydeveloping themabove
local residents into
tourist resources,
developing them effectively
into touristensuring
resources,longevity of use.
effectively ensuring longevity of use.

Figure3.3.The
Figure Thetheatre
theatreinside
insideShaikh
ShaikhEbrahim
EbrahimCenter
Centerfor
forCulture
Cultureand
andResearch,
Research,showing
showingpart
partof
ofthe
the
ancient wall blended in with the modern design. (Bahrain Ministry of Culture).
ancient wall blended in with the modern design. (Bahrain Ministry of Culture).

Although implementing
Although implementing identical
identical repairs
repairs on on each
each building
building wouldwould havehave been
beenmore
more
straightforward,
straightforward, as per the studies conducted, it became apparent
per the studies conducted, it became apparent that each building that each building re-
quired varying
required varying levels
levelsofof renovation
renovation and needed
and needed to be
to repurposed
be repurposed differently
differently[7]. [7].
ThisThis
was
advantageous
was advantageous to thetoproject’s success.
the project’s Post-renovations,
success. Post-renovations, somesomeof theofbuildings host exhib-
the buildings host
its about
exhibits the history
about the historyof the pearling
of the pearling industry,
industry,traditional
traditionalmedicine,
medicine, and Bahrain’s first
and Bahrain’s first
newspaper.
newspaper.OthersOthersfunction
functionasascenters
centersfor forpreserving
preserving specific
specific local crafts,
local such
crafts, as as
such thethe
Kurar
Ku-
House
rar Housededicated to teaching
dedicated the artthe
to teaching of gold
art ofembroidery [15]. Historical
gold embroidery documents,
[15]. Historical pictures
documents,
and important
pictures tools were
and important collected
tools from homeowners
were collected from homeownersand national archivesarchives
and national and placedand
in glass in
placed displays where appropriate.
glass displays where appropriate.As renovations took place,
As renovations took the Ministry
place, installed
the Ministry in-
bi-lingual signage signage
stalled bi-lingual throughout the area the
throughout in order
area into order
directtopeople
directtopeople
these totraditional houses.
these traditional
In particular, the renovation of the Siyadi properties, which included a mosque, two
houses.
residences and, most
In particular, theimportantly,
renovationaof series of shops
the Siyadi and storehouses
properties, which played
included anaindispensable
mosque, two
role in revitalizing the local economy. These stores were leased to
residences and, most importantly, a series of shops and storehouses played an indispen- ambitious entrepreneurs
who
sableworked with the Ministry
role in revitalizing the localof economy.
Culture toThese createstores
caféswere
and leased
shops that preserved
to ambitious the
entre-
traditional Bahraini architecture yet fitted with modern facilities
preneurs who worked with the Ministry of Culture to create cafés and shops that pre- to create a unique experi-
ence.
served A the
perfect exampleBahraini
traditional is “Saffron”, a café serving
architecture traditional
yet fitted with modernBahraini food with
facilities a glassa
to create
flooring to showcaseAthe
unique experience. property’s
perfect example original purposeaas
is “Saffron”, a “madbasa”,
café which isBahraini
serving traditional where dates
food
were traditionally made into syrup [21]. This combination of a historical
with a glass flooring to showcase the property’s original purpose as a “madbasa”, which setting, traditional
food and modern
is where dates werecafétraditionally
service created made an interactive
into syrup atmosphere for people to
[21]. This combination ofthoroughly
a historical
immerse themselves in the area’s history. The shops and cafés
setting, traditional food and modern café service created an interactive atmosphere housed in these traditional
for
structures offer various degrees of traditionalism and modernization, from hip cultural
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people to thoroughly immerse themselves in the area’s history. The shops and cafés
people to thoroughly immerse themselves in the area’s history. The shops and cafés
housed in these traditional structures offer various degrees of traditionalism and modern-
housed in these traditional structures offer various degrees of traditionalism and modern-
ization, from hip cultural art fixtures to historical mini-exhibits, showcasing the level of
ization, from hip cultural art fixtures to historical mini-exhibits, showcasing the level of
cooperation
art fixtures tobetween
historicalthemini-exhibits,
Ministry of Cultureshowcasing and the theentrepreneurs.
level of cooperation between the
cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the entrepreneurs.
MinistryTheofBuCulture
Maherand fortthe(Figure 4), representing the start of the Pearling Trail has been
entrepreneurs.
The Bu Maher fort (Figure 4), representing the start of the Pearling Trail has been
renovated
The BusinceMaher2010, and
fort was made
(Figure fit for visitors
4), representing thewith
startlight
of thedecorations
Pearling Trailwithin hasthe fort
been
renovated since 2010, and was made fit for visitors with light decorations within the fort
and a dedicated
renovated visitor’s
since 2010, and was centermadeand fitmini-museum
for visitors withnext lighttodecorations
it. This buildingwithinisthe one
fortofand
the
and a dedicated visitor’s center and mini-museum next to it. This building is one of the
amany examples
dedicated of modern
visitor’s center structures built withnext
and mini-museum thoughtful
to it. This design
building to actisas anof
one information
the many
many examples of modern structures built with thoughtful design to act as an information
point along
examples the trail structures
of modern and includes builta with
boat tour that connects
thoughtful design to theactisland
as anof Muharraq point
information to the
point along the trail and includes a boat tour that connects the island of Muharraq to the
islandthe
along of trail
Manama and the aNational
and includes boat tour Museum.
that connectsThe Ministry
the islandalso decided totorebuild
of Muharraq the of
the island Al
island of Manama and the National Museum. The Ministry also decided to rebuild the Al
Khalifiyaand
Manama Library, demolished
the National Museum. in the The1980s,
Ministry evenalsothough
decidedit istonot under
rebuild thethe UNESCO
Al Khalifiya
Khalifiya Library, demolished in the 1980s, even though it is not under the UNESCO
Library, demolished
World Heritage in the
listing [22]. 1980s,
This even
decisionthoughis oneit is
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manyunderthatthe UNESCOthe
represents World Heritage
government’s
World[22].
listing Heritage listing [22].
Thistodecision Thisofdecision is one of manythe thatgovernment’s
represents thedetermination
government’s
determination expandisthe one many that
renovation represents
efforts beyond the original UNESCO require-
determination
to expand to expandefforts
the renovation the renovation efforts beyond the requirements.
original UNESCO require-
ments. Furthermore, rather thanbeyondmimic the original
building’s UNESCO
old design, the modern Furthermore,
design uses
ments.
rather Furthermore,
than materials
mimic theand rather
building’sthan mimic
oldgiving the
design, building’s old
the modern design design, the modern design uses
traditional patterns, a contemporary feel touses traditional
the area without materials
appear-
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and materials
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feel toasa contemporary
the feel
area withoutcenter, to
appearingthe area without
inharmonious. appear-
The
ing inharmonious. library also serves a community a function that is impos-
ing inharmonious.
library The library also serves as afunction
community center, a function that is to
impos-
sible toalso
assignserves
to oneas a community
of the UNESCOcenter, listed abuildings thatto
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of damaging to assign one
those struc-
sible
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to fear buildings
of damaging due to fearstructures
those of damaging those struc-
tures with frequent public use. The taken to create these mini-exhibitswith alongfrequent
the 3.5
tures with
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taken The
create caremini-exhibits
these taken to create these
along the mini-exhibits
3.5 km stretch along thethe
reflects 3.5
km stretch reflects cultural identity of Bahrain without an intransigent museum feel
km stretch
cultural reflects the cultural identity of Bahrain without an intransigent museum feel
[23]. As identity of Bahrain
per the mobility without anthe
consultation, intransigent
government museum feel [23]. the
also renovated As streets
per theandmobility
fitted
[23]. As per the
consultation, themobility
government consultation,
also the government
renovated the streets also
and renovated
fitted the the
areastreets
with and fitted
multiple
the area with multiple public spaces for people to rest, using traditional materials and
the area
public withfor
spaces multiple
people public
to rest, spaces
using for peoplematerials
traditional to rest, using
and traditional
natural materials
elements to and
create
natural elements to create microclimates and serve as guidance along the path (Figure 5)
natural elements
microclimates and to create
serve as microclimates
guidance along and
the serve
path as guidance
(Figure 5) [1]. along the path (Figure 5)
[1].
[1].

Figure4.4. Interior
Figure Interiorof
ofthe
theBu
BuMaher
MaherFort
Fort(Bahrain
(BahrainMinistry
Ministryof
ofCulture).
Culture).
Figure 4. Interior of the Bu Maher Fort (Bahrain Ministry of Culture).

Figure 5. Example of a microclimate incorporating pearl symbolism and natural elements (Aga
FigureDevelopment
Figure
Khan 5.5.Example
Exampleofof a microclimate
a microclimate
Network). incorporating
incorporating pearlpearl symbolism
symbolism and natural
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(Aga Khan
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Development Network).Network).

Finally, the power given to the Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research to be
the primary mediator and organizer that communicates with the public and lobbies private
Sustainability 2021, 13, 6629 7 of 9

organizations for funding, allows for continuous use of the buildings [24]. By hosting
multiple events and creating centers for teaching old crafts along with providing the public
with information, the area is kept alive and bustling at appropriate times throughout the
year while encouraging the local economy.

5. Results: A City Brought Back to Life

After the submission in 2008, the Pearling Trail project was completed as per UN-
ESCO’s requirements and gained the World Heritage Site title in 2012, yet it was not until
2021 that it was completed as per the goals Bahrain set for itself. The creative use of the
traditional houses, the addition of other modern buildings to act as cultural centers, and
the incorporation of public spaces for pedestrians and cars collectively allowed for business
and cultural activity to flow back to the area.
Comparing the Pearling Trail to Bahrain’s other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the
differences in terms of the effectiveness of this project become apparent. The area around the
Bahrain Fort was not developed to its full potential, and the fort itself is still sparingly used
as one of the venues for Bahrain’s Spring of Culture activities. Additionally, the absence
of proper direction of visitor traffic to the area and the scarce parking amenities along
the beach make the site difficult to access for non-locals. Finally, the lack of government
incentivization for locals to host more activities makes it no more than a quick stop for
any visiting tourist who would otherwise have no awareness of the scheduling of local
activities in the area. The absence of new infrastructure that can be used freely, the difficulty
of access to the area, and no plans for sustainable use of the space make this site a lost
opportunity for further socioeconomic development. Hypothetically, incorporating a boat
tour, or adding more infrastructure could encourage more local businesses to setup shop
along the beachside, enhancing the site’s cultural and economic importance.
In comparison, the Pearling Trail plays host to multi-faceted education and cultural
events and businesses, brought to life by government and local efforts. The study of local
transportation and pedestrian behaviors increased the attractiveness of the location for
cultural events. The use of a boat tour as a point of connection between the National
Museum and Bu Maher fort as the entrance to the area takes advantage of Bahrain as an
island and creates a unique experience. The sprinkling of cultural centers throughout the
trail allows for diversified use of the space.
In an assessment of venues hosting events during Bahrain’s Annual Spring of Culture
Festival, the area’s elevation into a functioning cultural center becomes vividly clear.
Between 2008 and 2019, the number of events hosted in venues within the Pearling Trail
doubled, thanks to the efforts of the Shaikh Ebrahim Center. Moreover, a walkathon of
the Pearling Trail has become a staple in the annual festival since 2017, a testament to how
the area has become more walkable and attractive for visitors compared to its previous
downtrodden state [25].
Furthermore, Muharraq was selected as the Islamic Capital of Culture for 2018, recog-
nized as per the criteria for its documented historical authenticity, outstanding contribution
to knowledge and learning that singles it out in the country and the region, and a significant
input in Islamic culture and human culture in general [26]. This created an opportunity
for further planning of Islamic family friendly events that would change the tourist de-
mographic of the country from weekend party seekers to Muslim family travelers, and
redirects the investment in the tourism industry from hotels to events. This demographic
change also means the inpour of revenue into more legitimate businesses that are tourist
and family-friendly [27,28].
In recognition of the project’s design, the Pearling Trail has received the Aga Khan
Award in 2019, which recognized the storytelling aspect of the trail for its inclusion thematic
materials and pearl symbolism in the design of all spaces [1]. This award adds to the
international recognition of the project and Bahrain’s efforts.
Bahraini footfalls in the area now have increased, popularizing the city as a weekend
site for visiting by artists, families and elders. The mini-exhibits, restaurants and shops, and
Sustainability 2021, 13, 6629 8 of 9

usable public spaces have attracted more people to the area. Those who previously wrote
of their longing for the past and positive change filled local newspapers with praise for the
project’s impact [29]. Urban renewal is highlighted by new local markets and reviving the
culture and history of the people.

6. Conclusions: A Successful Project

In conclusion, a project of this scale is complicated, requiring heavy reliance on the
cooperation of people, deep research, and a continuous need to step back to look at the
whole picture. In analyzing the Pearling Trail’s progress, three factors elevated the project
from a conservation project to the urban regeneration of Muharraq; project expansion, focus
on sustainability, improvement of access. As UNESCO is more focused on preservation,
expanding the project to include other sites and public spaces incorporated more of the city
into the project and improved sustainability and access. The additional buildings, public
spaces, and car parks allow for easier physical access to an area that was previously deemed
unsightly and unsafe. As the historical buildings must be protected, the new structures
allow for more unrestricted use of the space for cultural activity, events, and business
opportunities to arise, increasing revenue in the area. By establishing the Shaikh Ebrahim
Center for Culture and Research as the leader of soft initiatives in Muharraq, continuous
access to culture and proper utilization of the facilities is ensured. Upon completion of
the project in 2021, the Ministry of Culture, visitors, and residents alike all praise the
transformation of the city [29].
The success of this project creates a model for inspiring similar regeneration of other
areas in Bahrain. The capital of Manama is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage
Sites under the title submission of “Manama, City of Trade, Multiculturalism and Religious
Coexistence” since 2018 [30]. There are various resemblances between the two cities,
including historically and culturally valuable buildings, a fall into disrepair due to mixed
conservation efforts, influx of migrant laborers, and residents’ eagerness for renewal and
rejuvenation. By studying the Pearling Trail project and identifying key success factors, it
is possible to use it as a blueprint for the old Manama souq area’s Urban Regeneration that
will allow the area to reach its full socioeconomic potential.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, H.T.N. and J.L; methodology, J.L.; validation, H.T.N., J.L.
and H.C.; formal analysis, H.T.N.; writing—original draft preparation, H.T.N.; writing—review and
editing, J.L.; supervision, J.L. and H.C.; project administration, J.L.; funding acquisition, J.L and H.C.
All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This work was supported by the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Research Fund.
Institutional Review Board Statement: Not applicable.
Informed Consent Statement: Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement: All data is past publishments and news reports.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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