Manama
Manama (Arabic: الْمَنَامَة el-Menâme, Bahrani pronunciation: [elmɐˈnɑːmɐ]) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 200,000 as of 2020. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population. After periods of Portuguese and Persian control and invasions from the ruling dynasties of Saudi Arabia and Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation in 1971 following a period of British hegemony.
Manama
الْمَنَامَة | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from top: Bahrain World Trade Center; skyline with roads, towers and harbour of Manama; night view of Manama City; and Manama City view | |
Manama Location of Manama in Bahrain Manama Manama (Persian Gulf) Manama Manama (Asia) | |
| Coordinates: 26°13′30″N 50°34′39″E | |
| Country | Bahrain |
| Governorate | Capital |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Area | |
| • Capital city | 30 km2 (10 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Estimate (2020) | 200,000 |
| • Density | 5,200/km2 (13,000/sq mi) |
| • Urban (2020) | 635,000 |
| • Capital Governorate (2020) | 534,939 |
| Time zone | GMT+3 |
| Block number | 3XX–4XX |
| Website | capital |
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 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.