Muharraq

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title: "Muharraq" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["muharraq", "populated-places-in-the-muharraq-governorate", "former-municipalities-(regions)-of-bahrain"] topic_path: "general/muharraq" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muharraq" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_name
native_nameالمحرق
settlement_type
motto
image_skyline{{multiple image
borderinfobox
total_width300
perrow1/2/1
image1Skyline de Muharraq, Baréin, 2024-08-18, DD 31.jpg
caption1Muharraq skyline
image2Muharraq Masjid Shaikh Isa bin Ali Minarett.jpg
caption2Minarett of the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Mosque
image3Bahrain's Pearling Pathway (18640000885).jpg
caption3Pearling pathway
image4Muharraq Blick auf das National Theatre of Bahrain 1.jpg
caption4View from Muharraq to the National Theatre
blank_emblem_size200px
pushpin_mapBahrain
pushpin_label_positionbottom
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Bahrain
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameBahrain
subdivision_type1Governorate
subdivision_name1Al Muharraq Governorate
subdivision_name4
leader_title1
established_title
established_title2
established_title3
established_date3
unit_prefmetric
area_total_km257.50
area_land_km2
area_total_sq_mi22.21
area_blank1_sq_mi
population_as_of2012
population_total176583
population_density_km23291
population_density_sq_mi8520
population_blank1_titleEthnicities
population_blank2_titleReligions
population_density_blank1_sq_mi
coordinates
elevation_footnotes
elevation_ft
postal_code_type
::

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Muharraq () is Bahrain's third-most populous city and served as its capital until 1932 when it was replaced by Manama. 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.

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.

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. The city has experienced development through infrastructure expansion and economic diversification, including tourism and finance, while maintaining its cultural heritage. 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.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Muharraq_Town_and_Causeway_1953.png" caption="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.

Culture

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

Economy

Gulf Air has its headquarters in Muharraq, and Bahrain Air formerly had its headquarters at Mohamed Centre in Muharraq.

Government and infrastructure

Muharraq houses the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Affairs, an agency of the Ministry of Transportation.

Education

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Traditional_Bahrain_door.jpg" caption="A doorway in the traditional architectural style in Muharraq"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Sa'ada_Waterfront,_Bahrain.jpg" caption="Sa'ada waterfront on Muharraq island."] ::

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.

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

Firjan (districts)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Bahrain_street.jpg" caption="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.

Notes

References

References

  1. "World Gazetteer: Bahrain - largest cities (Per geographical entity)".
  3. "[[Al Khalifa]]." Al Khalifa. Retrieved on 24 December 2011.
  4. "[http://looklex.com/e.o/muharraq.htm]." Ibn Utub. Retrieved on 24 December 2011.
  5. "Al-Muḥarraq".
  6. "Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy".
  7. "Human Development Reports: Bahrain".
  8. "Bahrain Economic Vision 2030".
  9. "GCC Overview".
  10. Encyclopædia Britannica: [http://www.britannica.com/place/al-Muharraq Al-Muḥarraq].
  11. Summers, Mark. "[http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=188654 'It's business as usual' at Gulf Air]." ''[[Gulf Daily News]]''. Wednesday 25 July 2007. Retrieved on 24 September 2009.
  12. link. (11 June 2010 ." Bahrain Air. Retrieved on 22 June 2010.)
  13. link. (11 June 2010 ." ([http://www.bahrainair.net/english/images/about/bahrain-air-map.jpg image] {{Webarchive). link. (11 June 2010 ) Bahrain Air. Retrieved on 22 June 2010.)
  14. "[http://mot.gov.bh/en/contact-us Contact Us]" ([https://archive.today/20140207071715/http://mot.gov.bh/en/contact-us Archive]) [[Ministry of Transportation (Bahrain). 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" [http://mot.gov.bh/ar/contact-us Address in Arabic] ([https://archive.today/20140207072001/http://mot.gov.bh/ar/contact-us Archive]): "شئون الطيران المدني هاتف: 0097317321189 فاكس: 0097317330123 صندوق بريد 586 مملكة البحرين العنوان: مبنى 586، طريق 2409، المحرق 224 "
  15. "[http://www.moe.gov.bh/en/Daleel.aspx#c Directory] {{Webarchive. link. (2 September 2009 ." Ministry of Education. Retrieved on 8 September 2009.)
  16. "[http://files.lfbah.webnode.fr/200006479-6e8336f7d2/FRENCH%20SCHOOL%20access%20map.pdf French School Access Map] {{Webarchive. link. (22 April 2015" ([https://www.webcitation.org/6Xz4u7iNI?url=http://files.lfbah.webnode.fr/200006479-6e8336f7d2/FRENCH%20SCHOOL%20access%20map.pdf Archive]). French School of Bahrain. Retrieved on 23 April 2015.)

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muharraqpopulated-places-in-the-muharraq-governorateformer-municipalities-(regions)-of-bahrain