The corners law: Leftover spaces versus sustainability in Arab Gulf cities the case of Bahrain

Cities in Arab Gulf countries are suffering from deficiency in land use. Pockets of unused land and leftover spaces are present in most of these cities. Such pockets often turn into an eyesore in the built environment and a burden on public authorities as they require continuous maintenance and municipal services. Urban regulations in Bahrain and in other Arab Gulf countries, called Corners law, Qanun Al-zawaya, permit the residents, under certain conditions, to appropriate leftover spaces that are adjacent to their homes. The article presents such actions first through the data provided by the municipalities in Bahrain for the period 2004-2011, and then through some precedents found in the existing urban fabric of Manama. It then emphasizes a similar practice in old times that was known in Islamic law as Ihiya al mawat, that is, the Revivification of dead land as a theoretical and legal support to the present regulations. The improvement and reinforcement of these regulations are believed to: (i) reduce the burden of public service on the municipalities, (ii) rectify the mistakes of planners and professionals in the built environment and (iii) allow a direct participation of public, through small-scale actions, and thus open a new scope in the theme of sustainability. URBAN DESIGN International (2013) 18, 114-130. doi:10.1057/udi.2012.23; published online 14 November 2012