No new shisha licences will be issued in Bahrain’s Muharraq region, as the country embarks on a strict clampdown on shisha smoking.

Under proposals approved by Muhurraq Municipal Council on Sunday, officials will reject all new licence applications and force existing shisha cafes to close by midnight.

The rules will apply to the whole of Muhurraq, including Amraj Islands.

Council chairman Mohammed Al Sinan was quoted in the Gulf Daily News as saying: “There have been previous recommendations banning shisha in Amwaj back in 2002 and 2006.

“Now it’s 2015 and we’re insisting that no new shisha licences are given out. It’s against people’s health and environment. It’s also bad for people in the area, especially those who live close by.

“The people in the neighbourhoods have complained to us and say the smell reaches their apartments – particularly those with families, as they don’t want their young children to be breathing secondhand smoke.”

According to the newspaper, Bahrain is also planning to take action against shisha cafes operating without a licence.

Al Sinan said: “Currently, there are 34 sheesha places in Amwaj, of which only 18 are actually licensed.

“The others are illegal and we’ve spoken to the executive branch to ask them to take appropriate measures. We checked and discovered that the majority were illegal.”

“Muharraq is a large governorate and we want to clean up our areas,” he added.