Muharraq

This article is about city of Muharraq. For the island, see Muharraq Island. For the administritive division, see Muharraq Governorate.

Place in Al Muharraq Governorate, Bahrain

Muharraq

المحرق

Muharraq skyline

Minarett of the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Mosque

Pearling pathway

View from Muharraq to the National Theatre

Muharraq

Location in Bahrain

Coordinates: 26°15′N 50°37′E﻿ / ﻿26.250°N 50.617°E﻿ / 26.250; 50.617
Country| Bahrain
Governorate| Al Muharraq Governorate
Area

• Total

| 57.50 km2 (22.21 sq mi)
Population

(2012)

• Total

| 176,583[1]
• Density| 3,291/km2 (8,520/sq mi)

Muharraq[a] (Arabic: المحرق, romanized: al-Muḥarraq) is Bahrain's third-most populous city[b] and served as its capital until 1932 when it was replaced by Manama.[2][3] The population of Muharraq in 2020 was 263,373.

Muharraq served as the country’s capital until 1932. It rose to prominence during the 19th century as the center of Bahrain’s pearling industry, playing a vital economic and cultural role. The city retains much of its traditional character, with historic buildings, mosques, and markets that reflect its maritime heritage. Today, Muharraq is recognized for its preservation efforts and is part of the UNESCO-listed Pearling Path.[4]

The city of Muharraq lies on the eastern edge of Bahrain, directly across the water from Manama, and is connected to the capital by a series of causeways. It is a densely built urban area bordered by the Persian Gulf and features a mix of old neighborhoods and modern infrastructure. Muharraq’s compact layout preserves a traditional Gulf urban pattern, with narrow streets and close-knit communities near the coast.[4][5]

Muharraq, part of Bahrain’s urban landscape, reflects the country’s relatively high HDI, which benefits from investment in education, health care and economic growth.[6] The city has experienced development through infrastructure expansion and economic diversification, including tourism and finance, while maintaining its cultural heritage.[7] Geopolitically, Muharraq’s location near Bahrain International Airport and along the Persian Gulf situates it within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional bloc focused on cooperation among Gulf states.[8]

## History

[edit]

Muharraq in 1953

Muharraq was originally part of Dilmun, a Semitic speaking Bronze Age polity. Later, it became the city of Arwad on the island of Tylos (as Bahrain was referred to in antiquity), believed by some (including Strabo and Herodotus) to be the birthplace of Phoenicia. At the end of Persian rule, Bahrain came under the domination of the Seleucid Greeks, and Muharraq was the centre of a pagan cult dedicated to the ox god, Awal.

By the 5th century AD, Muharraq had become a major centre of Nestorian Christianity, which had come to dominate the southern shores of the Persian Gulf. As a sect, the Nestorians were often persecuted as heretics by the Byzantine Empire, but Bahrain was outside the Empire's control, offering safety. The names of several of Muharraq's villages today reflect this Christian legacy, with Al-Dair meaning 'the monastery' and Qalali meaning a 'monk's cloisters'.

Taken by the Portuguese (1521) and the Persians (1602), Al-Muḥarraq passed to the control of the Āl Khalīfah dynasty in 1783 with the rest of Bahrain.[9]

26°15′N 50°37′E﻿ / ﻿26.250°N 50.617°E﻿ / 26.250; 50.617

## Culture

[edit]

The city is recognized as a "Design City" by UNESCO.

## Economy

[edit]

Gulf Air has its headquarters in Muharraq,[10] and Bahrain Air formerly had its headquarters at Mohamed Centre in Muharraq.[11][12]

## Government and infrastructure

[edit]

Building 586 in Muharraq houses the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Affairs, an agency of the Ministry of Transportation.[13]

## Education

[edit]

A doorway in the traditional architectural style in Muharraq

The Ministry of Education of Bahrain operates public government schools.

Boys schools include Abu Farias Al-Hamdani Primary Boys School, Al-Maari Primary Boys School, Hassan bin Thabit Primary Boys School, Omer bin Abdulazeez Primary Boys School, Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa al-Khalifa Primary Boys School, Omer bin Al-Kattab Primary Intermediate Boys School, Abdul-Rahman Al-Nasser Intermediate Boys School, Tariq bin Zeyad Intermediate Boys School, and Moharraq Secondary Boys School.

Girls schools include A'amena bint Wahab Primary Girls School, Al-Muharraq Primary Girls School, Mariam bent Omran Primary Girls School, Zubaida Primary Girls School, Istiklal, Khadija al-Kubra Intermediate Girls School, Zanoobia Intermediate Girls School, and Muharraq Secondary Girls School.[14]

The French School of Bahrain is located in Busaiteen, in Muharraq Municipality.[15]

## Firjan (districts)

[edit]

A street in Muharraq

Firjan is the plural of the Arabic word Fareej which translates to district. The oldest and largest Fareej in Muharraq is Fareej Al Bin Ali. It was established by Sunni Arabs belonging to the Al Bin Ali tribe in the 17th century and until recently, members of the tribe still lived in that Fareej.

Other Firjan in Muharraq include: Al Bu Khmais, Al-Gumra, Al-Zayayina, Al-Ma'awida, Bin Ghatim, Al-Jowder, Bin Hindi, Al-'Amamira, Al-Mahmeed, Al-Hayaj (or Al-Hayayej), Al-Sanqal, Al-Dosa, Al-Sagha, Sheikh Abdullah Sheikh Hamad, and Bin Khatir are all Sunni districts. Unlike Manama's firjan which are mostly Shia, Muharraq has firjan which are mostly Sunni.

## See also

[edit]

* Bahrain portal

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Muharraq.

* Amwaj Islands, man-made islands near Al Muharraq.
* Christianity in Eastern Arabia

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ /muhɑːrək/
2. ^ After the capital Manama and Riffa

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "World Gazetteer: Bahrain - largest cities (Per geographical entity)". Archived from the original on 11 December 2012.
2. ^ "Al Khalifa." Al Khalifa. Retrieved on 24 December 2011.
3. ^ "[1]." Ibn Utub. Retrieved on 24 December 2011.
4. ^ a b "Al-Muḥarraq". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
5. ^ "Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
6. ^ "Human Development Reports: Bahrain". UNDP Human Development Reports. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
7. ^ "Bahrain Economic Vision 2030". Government of Bahrain. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
8. ^ "GCC Overview". Gulf Cooperation Council Official Site. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
9. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica: Al-Muḥarraq.
10. ^ Summers, Mark. "'It's business as usual' at Gulf Air." Gulf Daily News. Wednesday 25 July 2007. Retrieved on 24 September 2009.
11. ^ "Contact Us Archived 11 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine." Bahrain Air. Retrieved on 22 June 2010.
12. ^ "HQ Map Archived 11 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine." (image Archived 11 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine) Bahrain Air. Retrieved on 22 June 2010.
13. ^ "Contact Us" (Archive) Ministry of Transportation. Retrieved on 7 February 2014. "Civil Aviation Affairs P.O. Box 586 Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 17351111 Courier address: Building 586, Road 2409, Muharraq 224" Address in Arabic (Archive): "شئون الطيران المدني هاتف: 0097317321189 فاكس: 0097317330123 صندوق بريد 586 مملكة البحرين العنوان: مبنى 586، طريق 2409، المحرق 224 "
14. ^ "Directory Archived 2 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine." Ministry of Education. Retrieved on 8 September 2009.
15. ^ "French School Access Map Archived 22 April 2015 at WebCite" (Archive). French School of Bahrain. Retrieved on 23 April 2015.

* v
* t
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Settlements in the Muharraq Governorate of Bahrain

* Al Dair
* Al Hidd
* Al Saya
* Amwaj Islands
* Arad
* Busaiteen
* Dilmunia Island
* Diyar Al Muharraq
* East Hidd City
* Galali
* Halat Bu Maher
* Halat Nuaim
* Halat Seltah
* Muharraq
* Samaheej

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Governorates of Bahrain

Current divisions (governorates)|

* Capital
* Muharraq
* Northern
* Southern

Former divisions (regions)|

* Al Hidd
* Manama
* Western Region
* Central Governorate
* Central Region
* Northern Region
* Muharraq
* Rifa and Southern Region
* Jidd Haffs
* Hamad Town
* Isa Town
* Hawar Islands
* Sitra

ISO 3166-2:BH

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* e

Major cities of Bahrain

* Manama
* Muharraq
* Riffa
* Hamad Town
* Isa Town
* Sitra
* Jidhafs

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

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* Germany
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* BnF data
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Other|

* IdRef
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