![Bahrain Island [view from the air].](https://prod-images.planyourroadtrips.com/img/city-images/manama-bh-262279-505857/3-308_Cameron_aerial_of_Bahrain_Island_-_USACE-p15141coll5-15635.jpeg?w=1080&q=80&f=webp)
racetrack
Bahrain International Circuit
The Middle East's first Formula 1 venue, a floodlit desert circuit at Sakhir that races at night; karting, drag racing, and track experiences run through the cooler months.
23 km · about 25 min drive
AsiaBahrainManama
Manama
Manama, Bahrain · Asia
About Manama
Manama is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Jidd Ḩafş, 52km from Al Zubarah Archaeological Site.
Manama is in Bahrain, with about 150,000 people. The nearest town is Jidd Ḩafş, about 4 km away.
Manama (Arabic: اَلْمَنَامَة, romanized: al-Manāma, Bahrani pronunciation: [elmɐˈnɑːmɐ]) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 743,066 as of 2025 estimate. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a diverse population. After periods of PortugueseRead more
and Persian control and a short invasion from the ruling dynasty of Saudi Arabia, followed by a longer invasion by Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation in 1971 following a period of British hegemony.
Manama has a history spanning several centuries. First mentioned in Islamic texts as early as the 14th century, Manama remained a small trading port until it came under Portuguese control in the early 1500s. In 1602, the Safavid Persians expelled the Portuguese, and Manama became a regional center for commerce and pearling. By the late 19th century, it had grown significantly due to trade and was declared the capital of Bahrain in 1971 when the country gained independence from British protection. Since then, Manama has evolved into a modern financial hub in the Persian Gulf region.
Manama is situated on the northeastern coast of Bahrain Island, along the Persian Gulf. The city lies on low-lying terrain, with reclaimed land extending its coastline in recent decades due to rapid urban and economic development. Manama's coastal location has historically made it a vital port and trading point in the Gulf. The city has a desert climate, characterized by extremely hot summers, mild winters, and very low annual rainfall. Urban development has spread along the coast, with modern infrastructure, financial districts, and residential areas expanding into the desert outskirts and offshore artificial islands.
Although the current twin cities of Manama and Muharraq appear to have been founded simultaneously in the 1800s, 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. 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 West Asia. 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Manama?
Within an hour or so of Manama: Bahrain International Circuit (23 km), Al Zubarah Archaeological Site (52 km).
Where is Manama?
Manama is in Manama, Bahrain, about 4 km from Jidd Ḩafş.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 147,074
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Bahrain
- Region
- Manama
- Timezone
- Asia/Bahrain
- Coordinates
- 26.2279, 50.5857
Tags
Worth the detour from Manama
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Al Zubarah Archaeological Site
The excavated remains of an 18th-century pearling and trading town on Qatar's northwest coast, one of the best-preserved settlements of its era in the Gulf, with a 1938 fort standing alongside.
52 km · about 60 min drive
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