Manama

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Coordinates: 26°13′30″N 50°34′39″E / 26.22500°N 50.57750°E / 26.22500; 50.57750
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the capital of Bahrain. For the city in Ajman, see Manama, Ajman. For the similarly named song, see Mah Nà Mah Nà.
Not to be confused with Manana or Managua.

Manama
الْمَنَامَة
Capital
Government
 • GovernorHamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Area
 • Capital city30 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
200,000
 • Density5,200/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2020)[1]
635,000
 • Capital Governorate (2020)
534,939
Time zoneGMT+3
Block number
3XX–4XX
Websitecapital.gov.bh

Manama (

Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation
in 1971 following a period of British hegemony.

Although the current twin cities of Manama and Muharraq appear to have been founded simultaneously in the 1800s,[2] Muharraq took prominence due to its defensive location and was thus the capital of Bahrain until 1923. Manama became the mercantile capital and was the gateway to the main Bahrain Island.[3] In the 20th century, Bahrain's oil wealth helped spur fast growth and in the 1990s a concerted diversification effort led to expansion in other industries and helped transform Manama into an important financial hub in the Middle East. Manama was designated as the 2012 capital of Arab culture by the Arab League, and a beta global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network in 2018.[4][5]

Etymology

The name is derived from the Arabic word الْمَنَامَة (el-Menâme) meaning "the place of rest" or "the place of dreams".[6]

History

Pre-modern history

There is evidence of human settlement on the northern coastline of Bahrain dating back to the

Dilmun burial mounds were found across the north and central regions of the country, some originating 5,000 years ago. Despite the discovery of the mounds, there is no significant evidence to suggest heavy urbanisation took place during the Dilmun era.[9] It is believed that the majority of the population lived in rural areas, numbering several thousand. Evidence of an ancient large rural population was confirmed by one of Alexander the Great's ship captains, during voyages in the Persian Gulf. A vast system of aqueducts in northern Bahrain helped facilitate ancient horticulture and agriculture.[10]

"The capital of Awal... is a town well populated whose environs are fertile and produce corn and dates in abundance."

 —

Al-Idrisi[10]

The Khamis Mosque in 1956

The commercial network of Dilmun lasted for almost 2,000 years, after which the

Chinese coins dating between 600 and 1200 AD, in Manama.[8]

The Portuguese Fort, built by the Portuguese Empire while it ruled Bahrain from 1521 to 1602

In 1330, under the

Safavid empire in Persia, the Portuguese were expelled from Bahrain and the Safavids took control in 1602.[14]

Early modern history

The Safavids, sidelining Manama, designated the nearby town of

Ottoman-occupied Qatif and al-Hasa, fearing religious persecution, in 1537.[15] Sometime after 1736, Nader Shah constructed a fort on the southern outskirts of Manama (likely the Diwan Fort).[16]

Persian control over the Persian Gulf waned during the later half of the 18th century. At this time, Bahrain archipelago was a dependency of the emirate of

William Gifford Palgrave, on a visit to Manama in 1862, described the town as having a few ruined stone buildings, with a landscape dominated with the huts of poor fishermen and pearl-divers.[18][17]

The British political agency, c. 1900

The

Arabic: بيت الدولة) in 1900, which further solidified Britain's position in Manama.[21]

Manama harbour, c. 1870

Modern history

Aerial view of Manama in 1936

Following the outbreak of

Colonial office, was appointed in 1926 by the British to carry on further reforms and manage administration as a financial advisor to the King. He later organised the State Police and was in charge of the Finance and Land departments of the government.[24]

The newly formed Manama municipality (left) and the reorganised customs office of Manama (right)

In 1927, the country's pearling economy collapsed due to the introduction of Japanese cultured pearls in the world market. It is estimated that between 1929 and 1931, pearling entrepreneurs lost more than two-thirds of their income. Further aggravated by the

Bushire.[26]

Manama in 1945
Overview of Manama, 1953

Following the rise of

Foreign Office the following year.[30] A subsequent crackdown on the NUC led to the dissolution of the body. Another anti-British uprising erupted in March 1965, though predominately led by students aspiring for independence rather than by Arab nationalists.[a] In 1968, the British announced their withdrawal from Bahrain by 1971.[32] The newly independent State of Bahrain designated Manama as the capital city.[31]

Manama Souq in 1965
Protesters at the Pearl Roundabout just before it was demolished.

Post-independence Manama was characterised by the rapid urbanisation of the city and the swallowing-up of neighboring villages and hamlets into a single urbanised area, incorporating new neighbourhoods such as

month-long uprising led to the intervention of GCC forces and the proclamation of a three-month state of emergency. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry published a 500-page report on the events of 2011.[36]

Government

See also: Governorates of Bahrain and Politics of Bahrain
Manama in 1926

Historically, Manama has been restricted to what is now known as the Manama Souq and the Manama Fort (now the Ministry of Interior) to its south. However the city has now grown to include a number of newer suburban developments as well as older neighboring villages that have been engulfed by the growth of the city. The districts that make up Manama today include:

Manama is part of the

Capital Governorate, one of five Governorates of Bahrain. Until 2002 it was part of the municipality of Al-Manamah. Councils exist within the governorates; eight constituencies are voted upon within Capital Governorate in 2006.[37]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Bahrain
Central Manama

Manama is the focal point of the Bahraini economy. While petroleum has decreased in importance in recent years due to depleting reserves and growth in other industries, it is still the mainstay of the economy.

Islamic banking. There is also a large retail sector in the shopping malls around Seef
, while the center of Manama is dominated by small workshops and traders.

Manama's economy in the early 20th century relied heavily on

Custom duties and tariffs served as the prime source of revenue for the government. With the onset of the Great Depression, the collapse of the pearling industry and the discovery of oil in 1932, the country's economy began to shift towards oil.[39]

Historically, the ports at Manama were of poor reputation. The British described the ports importing systems as being "very bad – goods were exposed to the weather and there were long delays in delivery", in 1911. Indians began maintaining the ports and new resources were built on site, improving the situation. As of 1920, Manama was one of the main exporters of Bahrain pearls, attracting steamships from India. During this time, they also imported goods from India and from other regional countries. They imported rice, textiles, ghee, coffee, dates, tea, tobacco, fuel, and livestock. They exported less of a variety, with a focus on pearls, oysters, and sailcloth. For the year of 1911–12, Manama was visited by 52 steamships, the majority being British and the rest Turkish-Arabian.[40]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Bahrain
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1860s8,000—    
190425,000+212.5%
194127,835+11.3%
195039,648+42.4%
195961,726+55.7%
196579,098+28.1%
197188,785+12.2%
1981121,986+37.4%
2010329,510+170.1%
Source:[41] Bahrain Census 2010

The role of Manama as a regional port city in the Persian Gulf made it a hub for migrant workers in search of a better living. As a result, Manama has often been described, both in the pre-oil and post-oil era, as a cosmopolitan city.[42] In 1904, it was estimated that Manama's population numbered 25,000, out of which half were believed to have been foreigners from Basra, Najd, al-Hasa and Iran, as well as from India and Europe.[20]

Religion

The two main branches of

Huwala
.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Bahrain

Road network

Areal view of Manama City
Manama night view
Bahrain Bay overview
Skyline of Manama

Manama is the main hub of the country's road network. At the moment the city's road network is undergoing substantial development to ameliorate the situation of traffic in the city. Due to the fact that it is the capital and the main city in the country, where most of the government and the commercial offices and facilities are established, along with the entertainment centers, and the country's fast growth, vehicle population is increasing rapidly.

The widening of roads in the old districts of Manama and the development of a national network linking the capital to other settlements commenced as early as the arrival of the first car in 1914.

urban development to primarily focus on expanding the road network, widening carriageways and the establishment of more parking spaces.[43] Many tracks previously laid in the pre-oil era (prior to the 1930s) were resurfaced and widened, turning them into 'road arteries'. Initial widening of the roads started in the Manama Souq district, widening its main roads by demolishing encroaching houses.[43]

A series of

coastline and extend the city area in belt-like forms.[43] To the north, the foreshore used to be around Government Avenue in the 1920s but it shifted to a new road, King Faisal Road, in the early 1930s which became the coastal road.[43] To the east, a bridge connected Manama to Muharraq since 1929, a new causeway was built in 1941 which replaced the old wooden bridge.[43] Transits between the two islands peaked after the construction of the Bahrain International Airport in 1932.[43]

To the south of Manama, roads connected groves, lagoons and marshes of

Duraz.[43] To the south, a road was built that connected Manama to Riffa. The discovery of oil accelerated the growth of the city's road network.[43]

Manama cityline

The four main islands and all the towns and villages are linked by well-constructed roads. There were 3,164 km (1,966 mi) of roadways in 2002, of which 2,433 km (1,512 mi) were paved. A

Umm an-Nasan was completed in December 1986, and financed by Saudi Arabia
. In 2000, there were 172,684 passenger vehicles and 41,820 commercial vehicles.

Bahrain's port of

GT
or over, totaling 270,784 GT. Private vehicles and taxis are the primary means of transportation in the city.

Buses

Bahrain International Airport

Manama has a bus service that launched on 1 April 2015, with a fleet of 141 MAN buses.[44] Regulated by the Ministry of Transportation, bus routes extend across Bahrain and around Manama with fares of a minimum 200 Fils (BD0.200) (around $0.50(USD); £0.30).[45]

Air transport

Bahrain International Airport is located on the nearby Muharraq Island, approximately 7 km (4 mi) from the CBD. It is a premier hub airport in the Middle East. Strategically located in the Northern Persian Gulf between the major markets of Saudi Arabia and Iran, the airport has one of the widest range and highest frequency of regional services with connections to major international destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Bahrain also has a military airbase, the Isa Air Base, located in the south at Sakhir. This is the base of the Bahrain Defence Force, or BDF.

Education

Main article: Education in Bahrain
See also:
List of schools in Bahrain

Quranic schools were the only source of education in Bahrain prior to the 20th century; such schools were primarily dedicated to the study of the

Persian community of Bahrain.[48]

Following the end of the

Minister of Education. The Education Committee was also responsible for managing the Al-Hidaya Boys school.[46] The school was, in fact, the brainchild of Shaikh Abdulla, who suggested the idea after returning from post-World War I celebrations in England.[49]

In 1926, a second public school for boys opened up in Manama called the Jafaria School. Two years later, in 1928, the first public school for girls was established. Due to financial constraints suffered by the Education Committee, the Bahraini government took control of the schools in 1930.[46]

Presently, Manama has a wide range of private and public universities and colleges such as Ahlia University, Applied Science University, Arab Open University, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, and the College of Health and Sport Sciences. Other notable primary and secondary schools situated in the city include the Bahrain School, the Indian School, Al Raja School amongst others.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Bahrain

The city is located in the north-eastern corner of

arid
.

twin towers of the Bahrain Financial Harbor (BFH).
3. The NBB tower (short building next to BFH).
4. The Almoayyed Tower (tallest in the photo, center of image).
5. The Abraj Al Lulu
residential project (three towers) under-construction on the far-right).

Climate

Main article:
Climate of Bahrain

Manama has an

arid climate. In common with the rest of Bahrain, Manama experiences extreme climatic conditions, with summer temperatures up to 45 °C (113 °F), and winter as low as 7 °C (45 °F) with even hail
on rare occasions. Average temperatures of the summer and winter seasons are generally from about 17 °C (63 °F) to about 34 °C (93 °F). The most pleasant time in Bahrain is spring when sunshine is comparatively low, coupled with mild temperatures moderated by soft breezes.

Climate data for Manama (Bahrain International Airport) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1902–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 29.7
(85.5) 		34.7
(94.5) 		38.1
(100.6) 		41.3
(106.3) 		46.7
(116.1) 		47.3
(117.1) 		47.5
(117.5) 		45.6
(114.1) 		45.5
(113.9) 		42.8
(109.0) 		37.2
(99.0) 		30.6
(87.1) 		47.5
(117.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20.7
(69.3) 		22.0
(71.6) 		25.5
(77.9) 		30.6
(87.1) 		36.1
(97.0) 		38.6
(101.5) 		39.7
(103.5) 		39.6
(103.3) 		37.7
(99.9) 		34.0
(93.2) 		28.0
(82.4) 		22.9
(73.2) 		31.3
(88.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.5
(63.5) 		18.4
(65.1) 		21.3
(70.3) 		26.0
(78.8) 		31.1
(88.0) 		34.0
(93.2) 		35.1
(95.2) 		35.1
(95.2) 		33.2
(91.8) 		29.9
(85.8) 		24.6
(76.3) 		19.7
(67.5) 		27.2
(80.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1) 		15.4
(59.7) 		18.1
(64.6) 		22.4
(72.3) 		27.2
(81.0) 		30.0
(86.0) 		31.4
(88.5) 		31.5
(88.7) 		29.5
(85.1) 		26.4
(79.5) 		21.6
(70.9) 		16.8
(62.2) 		23.7
(74.7)
Record low °C (°F) 2.7
(36.9) 		7.9
(46.2) 		10.9
(51.6) 		10.8
(51.4) 		18.7
(65.7) 		18.4
(65.1) 		25.3
(77.5) 		21.8
(71.2) 		18.9
(66.0) 		18.8
(65.8) 		11.7
(53.1) 		6.4
(43.5) 		2.7
(36.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18.1
(0.71) 		13.0
(0.51) 		14.7
(0.58) 		7.5
(0.30) 		8.0
(0.31) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.9
(0.04) 		16.8
(0.66) 		15.2
(0.60) 		94.2
(3.71)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 2.5 1.9 2.5 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.6 2.3 12.6
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		69.1 67.2 61.5 54.4 47.6 46.2 50.7 58.0 59.2 62.3 63.6 68.7 59.0
Average dew point °C (°F) 11.5
(52.7) 		11.8
(53.2) 		13.1
(55.6) 		15.4
(59.7) 		17.8
(64.0) 		19.9
(67.8) 		22.5
(72.5) 		25.0
(77.0) 		23.7
(74.7) 		21.5
(70.7) 		17.0
(62.6) 		13.7
(56.7) 		17.7
(63.9)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 232 221 245 256 316 344 337 334 316 306 249 235 3,391
Source: NOAA,[50] Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[51]

Culture

Bab Al Bahrain

The country attracts a large number of foreigners and foreign influences, with just under one-third of the population hailing from abroad.[citation needed] Alcohol is legal in the country, with bars and nightclubs operating in the city. Bahrain gave women the right to vote in elections for the first time in 2002. Football is the most popular sport in Manama (and the rest of the country), with three teams from Manama participating in the Bahraini Premier League.

Notable cultural sites within Manama include the

central areas of Manama are also the main location for Muharram processions in the country
, attracting hundreds of thousands of people annually from Bahrain and across the Gulf.

Notable people

Twin towns and sister cities

See also

Notes

  1. ^ These student protests were led by intellectuals and poets such as Qassim Haddad.[31]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Annual Population of Urban Agglomerations with 300,000 Inhabitants or More in 2014, by Country, 1950–2030 (thousands), World Urbanization Prospects, the 2014 revision Archived 18 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Note: List based on estimates for 2015, from 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  2. ^ Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 185.
  3. ^ Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 186.
  4. ^ Manama Capital of Arab Culture 2012
  5. ^ "Ministry of Culture: Manama as the Bahraini Capital of Arab Culture". Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  6. ^ Room 1997, p. 223.
  7. ^ Al-Nabi 2012, p. 17.
  8. ^ a b c d e Dumper & Stanley 2007, p. 243.
  9. ^ Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 184.
  10. ^ a b Al-Nabi 2012, p. 19.
  11. ^ Rice 2005, p. 128.
  12. ^ Al A'ali, Mohammed (24 August 2013). "Protecting Bahrain's Christian heritage..." Gulf Daily News. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  13. ^ a b c Dumper & Stanley 2007, p. 244.
  14. ^ a b Larsen 1983, p. 68.
  15. ^ a b c Fuccaro 2009, p. 18.
  16. ^ Fuccaro 2005, p. 42.
  17. ^ a b Fuccaro 2005, p. 43.
  18. ^ Palgrave 1866.
  19. ^ Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 192.
  20. ^ a b Fuccaro 2005, p. 44.
  21. ^ a b Fuccaro 2009, p. 64.
  22. ^ a b Fuccaro 2009, p. 113.
  23. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 114.
  24. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 115.
  25. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 127-128.
  26. ^ a b Fuccaro 2009, p. 119.
  27. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 163.
  28. ^ Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 201.
  29. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 185-186.
  30. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 116.
  31. ^ a b Fuccaro 2009, p. 227.
  32. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 226.
  33. ^ Fuccaro 2009, p. 229.
  34. ^ Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 206.
  35. ^ a b c Fuccaro 2009, p. 230.
  36. ^ "Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry". Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  37. ^ Development Team at BNA. "Bahrain News Agency – ELECTION 2006 (retrieved 2 December 2006)". Archived from the original on 3 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  38. ^ CIA World Factbook – Bahrain (retrieved 2 December 2006)
  39. ^ Al-Nabi 2012, p. 20.
  40. ^ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Arabia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 73.
  41. ^ Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 202.
  42. ^ a b Ben Hamouche 2008, p. 191.
  43. ^
    ISBN 978-1134128211
    .
  44. ^ Al Omari, Ahmed (16 February 2015). "Clean, comfortable and punctual..." Gulf Daily News. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  45. ^ "Ministry of Transportation – Public Buses". Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  46. ^ a b c d "History". Ministry of Education – Bahrain. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  47. ^ Shirawi 1987, p. 59.
  48. ^ Shirawi 1987, p. 60.
  49. ^ Shirawi 1987, p. 61.
  50. ^ "Bahrain International Airport Climate Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  51. ^ "Station Bahrain" (in French). Météo Climat. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  52. ISBN 978-1-907065-58-3
    . Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  53. ^ "Manama Souq revamp will be finished by mid-2020". Time Out Bahrain. Retrieved 11 March 2020.

Bibliography

Primary sources

  • Palgrave, William Gifford
    (1866). Narrative of a Year's Journey through Central and Eastern Arabia (1862–1863). Vol. II. London: Macmillan & Co.

Secondary sources

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Manama.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Manama.
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