Manama, Bahrain

Manama (Al-Manamah) is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Bahrain, an island nation situated in the Persian Gulf. Since 1971, Manama has been the seat of power for the Al Khalifa dynasty, which rules the tiny island country as a constitutional monarchy. Manama is considered the wealthiest and most visited capital of the Persian Gulf region. The name Manama is translated as "sleeping place."

Landscape

Manama is located on a small peninsula on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island, and contains roughly a quarter of the country's population. A coastal city, Manama is bordered by the waters of the Persian Gulf on almost every side but the south. To the north east is Al-Muharraq, Bahrain's second largest city and an island unto itself; the two communities are connected to each other by a causeway. To the south east of Manama is Mina'Salman, the country's only deep water port.

The city consists of ten major districts. The major neighborhoods of Manama include Adliya, the Central Business District (CBD), Diplomatic Area, Gudaibiya, Hoora, Al Qalah, Juffair, Sulmaniya, Umm al Hassan, and Az Zinj.

The climate in Manama is typical of most places in the tiny island nation: arid and hot and characterized by humid summers and mild winters. During the summer, temperatures can climb to as high as 42 to 50 degrees Celsius (108 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature typically stays above 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in the colder months, with average temperatures of 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees Fahrenheit) in January. Rainfall on the island is minimal.

People

With a population of 709,000 (2023), Manama is the largest city in Bahrain. The majority of the city's population are non-Bahrainis; in fact, a 2008 estimate put the local Bahraini population at only a third of the city's inhabitants. As in the rest of the country, the local Bahraini population of Manama is made up of both Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Shiites are estimated to make up the largest part of the Muslim population, although the Al Khalifa ruling class is Sunni.

Almost 90 percent of Bahrain's population lives in urban centers or outlying suburbs (2023). As such, population density is considered problematic for a small island nation.

The dominant (and official) language in Manama is Arabic, but because of the diverse nature of the city's population, Farsi, Urdu, Hindi and English are also widely spoken. In addition, Manama has a thriving student population and is home to the Arabian Gulf University and the University of Bahrain, as well as many other smaller institutions. Unlike many cities in Muslim nations, Manama is considered liberal due to its significant international population.

Economy

The economy of Manama, and of Bahrain as a whole, is mainly driven by the oil industry and finance. Although Bahrain has grown more economically diverse in recent years as petroleum reserves are depleted. In 1980, an estimated 68.1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) was produced by the oil and gas industry; by 2021, that figure was 10.9 percent. Bahrain is also considered to have a liberal or free economy for a Middle Eastern state; an almost nonexistent taxation structure and liberal import duties have helped Manama to flourish. Manama, due to its strategic location in the Gulf region, is also home to numerous multinational companies, including over two hundred financial corporations and banks, many of which are headquartered in the city.

Tourism is a major part of the city's economy, with Manama being the first stop in Bahrain for many international travelers due to Bahrain International Airport, which is fifteen kilometers (nine miles) outside the capital. Other economic activity includes heavy industries such as smelting (the extraction and purification of metal) and ship building, especially the artisan craft of dhow ships—a traditional sailboat with a triangular sail. Manama is also home to the Mina'Salman deep water port, considered to be one of the most important ports in the Gulf region.

Landmarks

Manama is home to numerous cultural and religious institutions, including mosques and museums. The Al-Fatih mosque is the largest mosque in the country and can hold a maximum of seven thousand people. The mosque contains handcrafted and special materials from countries all over the world, including Italian marble and teak wood from India. The Khamis Mosque is believed to be the oldest mosque in Bahrain, dating back to the seventh century.

The Bahrain National Museum contains artifacts from early antiquity and covers nearly six thousand years of history concerning the thirty-three islands that make up modern-day Bahrain. There is also the Museum of Pearl Diving, dedicated to one of Bahrain's traditional economic activities. The Beit Al Qur'an, which means "House of Qur'an," is a museum dedicated to the understanding of Islam. Its Qur'an collection includes examples that date back to the seventh century, shortly after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.

Bab Al-bahrain, which means "Gate of Bahrain," is located in the central business district of Manama and was home to the government during Bahrain's time as a British protectorate. Originally designed by Sir Charles Belgrave, a financial advisor to the government of Bahrain in 1945, the Gate was redesigned in 1986 to incorporate Islamic features. There is also Qal'at al-Bahrain, or the Bahrain Fort, an archaeological site designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 2005.

In addition, Manama is home to the Manama souq, or market, a popular destination for both tourists and locals to purchase food, spices, fabrics, souvenirs, and many other goods.

History

Despite the fact that Bahrain is home to sites mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh (an ancient poem considered one of the earliest known written works of fiction), Manama does not appear in any historical documents until 1345 CE. Nonetheless, throughout its history, Manama has been controlled by several foreign forces, including the Babylonians, Sumerians, Greeks, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1521, the island was taken over by the Portuguese and then ruled by the Persians in 1602. In 1783 Manama came under the rule of Al Khalif dynasty, which has ruled with minor interruptions since.

By the nineteenth century, the British had exerted their influence in the Gulf region, particularly in Bahrain. However, at the time, Britain did not want to take direct control of Manama and Bahrain, or the Persian Gulf, and instead entered into an arrangement with the Al Khalif rulers, designating Bahrain a British protectorate. As early as 1820, Bahrain was included in a treaty that allowed the Al Khalifs to rule over the island from their seat in Manama, but the British government would control foreign affairs.

While the British maintained a government agent representing the crown's interest in Manama during Bahrain's protectorate status, the seat of Britain's authority in the Middle East was located in Bushire, Iran. However, in 1946 the political seat of British power in the region moved to Manama, where it remained until Bahrain's independence in 1971.

In 1932 oil was discovered in Bahrain, which set Manama on a path to modernization, as agriculture was replaced by heavy industry. Construction was rampant, water reclamation projects increased the extent of the city, and many of the mosques, museums, and other cultural institutions were either redesigned or built. After World War II, Bahrain was slowly progressing toward independence, and in 1958, declared Manama a free port, or a port with relaxed jurisdictions such as lax custom regulations. In 1971, after the last treaty signed between the British had expired, Bahrain was declared an independent nation, with Manama as its capital.

During what has become known as the Arab Spring, antigovernment protesters took part in an a mass uprising against the Bahraini government in early 2011 to push the nation to become constitutional monarchy and to institute democratic reform. The protesters occupied Manama's Pearl Square for a month before government troops forced them to leave. Although the government stated it was open to dialogue with the opposition, protesters continued to mark the anniversary of the 2011 uprising in 2013 and 2014 by clashing with police and boycotting the 2014 municipal council elections.

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