In a city long marked by conflict, Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, now reverberates with the breaking of pins at the country’s first modern bowling alley.

It is the latest sign of the revival of a once-thriving Indian Ocean port shaped by 35 years of civil war and militant bombings.

Millions of people were forced to flee the city, which has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Those who remained avoided public spaces as the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group led an insurgency against the Somali state.

In recent years, improved security measures against al-Shabab, an expanded government presence and growing private investment have allowed daily life to re-emerge. Cafes line newly opened streets, beaches attract evening crowds, and traffic jams, once unimaginable, are now jammed at key intersections.

Feynuus Bowling Center opened last year and attracts many locals and Somalis returning from the diaspora, who bring investments and business ideas after years of sending billions of dollars in remittances from abroad.

On a recent evening, young Somalis gathered in groups, laughing and filming each other with their phones as music played.

‘Mogadishu is actually safe’

Many from the diaspora are visiting Mogadishu for the first time in many years – or the first time ever.

“I couldn’t believe Mogadishu had this place,” said Hudoon Abdi, a Somali-Canadian vacationer, as she prepared to take her turn bowling.

“I’m enjoying it. Mogadishu is actually safe,” she said, inviting others to visit her.

However, Mogadishu remains vulnerable to militant attacks, with security measures such as checkpoints and heavily guarded zones part of everyday life. Non-Somalis remain largely confined to the compound at the international airport.

But residents say the ability to gather for recreation signals an important psychological shift. Such places provide a pleasant environment for the younger generation looking for safe places to hang out.

Abukar Hajji returned from the UK on holiday after many years away and found the difference between what he had imagined and what he experienced was startling.

“When I flew from the UK, I believed it was a scary place, like a war-torn country,” he said. – Everyone told me, good luck. But when I came and saw it with my own eyes, I didn’t want to leave.”

Sadaq Abdurahman, manager of the bowling center, said that the idea for the business arose from the growing demand among young people for recreational facilities.

“It has created employment opportunities for at least 40 young people,” he said.

According to the Somali National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Somalia is 21.4 percent.

The bowling alley has private security guards, bag checks and surveillance cameras, mirroring the precautions common in public places in Mogadishu.

Urban planners and economists say businesses like the bowling alley signal a broader shift in Mogadishu’s recovery, as private sector growth increasingly complements international aid and government-led reconstruction efforts.

Ahmed Khadar Abdi Jama, an economics lecturer at the University of Somalia, said innovative businesses are responding to the needs of diaspora returnees and a growing middle class, “which in turn contributes to the expected increase in Somalia’s GDP.”