Muharraq المحرق | |
|---|---|
 Muharraq skyline  Minarett of the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Mosque .jpg) Pearling pathway  View from Muharraq to the National Theatre | |
  Muharraq Location in Bahrain | |
| Coordinates:26°15′N50°37′E / 26.250°N 50.617°E /26.250; 50.617 | |
| Country | Bahrain |
| Governorate | Al Muharraq Governorate |
| Area | |
• Total | 57.50 km2 (22.20 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 176,583[1] |
| • Density | 3,291/km2 (8,520/sq mi) |
Muharraq[a] (Arabic:المحرق,romanized: al-Muḥarraq) isBahrain'sthird-most populous city[b] and served as its capital until 1932 when it was replaced byManama.[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'spearling industry, playing a vital economic and cultural role. The city retains much of its traditional character, with historic buildings,mosques, andmarkets that reflect its maritime heritage. Today, Muharraq is recognized for its preservation efforts and is part of theUNESCO-listed Pearling Path.[4]
The city of Muharraq lies on the eastern edge of Bahrain, directly across the water fromManama, and is connected to the capital by a series ofcauseways. It is a densely built urban area bordered by thePersian Gulf and features a mix of old neighborhoods and modern infrastructure. Muharraq's compact layout preserves a traditionalGulf urban pattern, with narrow streets and close-knit communities near the coast.[4][5]
Muharraq, part ofBahrain's urban landscape, reflects the country's relatively highHDI, which benefits from investment ineducation,health care and economic growth.[6] The city has experienced development through infrastructure expansion and economic diversification, includingtourism andfinance, while maintaining its cultural heritage.[7] Geopolitically, Muharraq's location nearBahrain International Airport and along thePersian Gulf situates it within theGulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional bloc focused on cooperation among Gulf states.[8]
Muharraq was originally part ofDilmun, aSemitic speakingBronze Age polity. Later, it became the city of Arwad on the island ofTylos (as Bahrain was referred to in antiquity), believed by some (includingStrabo andHerodotus) to be the birthplace ofPhoenicia. At the end of Persian rule, Bahrain came under the domination of theSeleucid 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 ofNestorian Christianity, which had come to dominate the southern shores of thePersian Gulf. As a sect, the Nestorians were often persecuted as heretics by theByzantine 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 thePortuguese (1521) and thePersians (1602), Al-Muḥarraq passed to the control of theĀl Khalīfah dynasty in 1783 with the rest of Bahrain.[9]
26°15′N50°37′E / 26.250°N 50.617°E /26.250; 50.617
The city is recognized as a "Design City" by UNESCO.
Gulf Air has its headquarters in Muharraq,[10] andBahrain Air formerly had its headquarters at Mohamed Centre in Muharraq.[11][12]
Muharraq houses the headquarters of theCivil Aviation Affairs, an agency of theMinistry of Transportation.[13]
TheMinistry 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, andMoharraq 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, andMuharraq Secondary Girls School.[14]
TheFrench School of Bahrain is located inBusaiteen, in Muharraq Municipality.[15]
Firjan is the plural of the Arabic wordFareej which translates todistrict. The oldest and largest Fareej in Muharraq is Fareej Al Bin Ali. It was established by Sunni Arabs belonging to theAl 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.
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