Manama is a big city.
It is in Bahrain. It sits by the sea. It is very hot there. Many people live in this place. It is a busy place to visit. Do you like the sea?
Manama is a big city.
It is in the land of Bahrain. It sits by the sea.
The city is in a hot place. It has very little rain. The summers are very hot.
Long ago, people found pearls here. They also traded goods. This helped the city grow.
Now, the city is very modern. It is a place for money and banks. It has many tall buildings.
Many people live and work in Manama. It is a busy place by the water.
Manama is the capital city of Bahrain.
It sits on the coast of Bahrain Island. The city is next to the Persian Gulf. It is a very busy place. About 743,066 people live there.
The weather in Manama is very hot. The summers are extremely hot. There is very little rain each year. The land is mostly desert. Some new land was made from the sea to help the city grow.
Manama has a very long history. People lived in this area a long time ago. In the past, the city was famous for pearls. Many people worked on boats to find them.
Different groups ruled the area. These included the Portuguese and the Persians. The British also helped protect the land for a while.
Today, Manama is a modern hub for money and banks. It has many tall buildings.
In 2012, it was named the capital of Arab culture. It is a very important place in the Middle East.
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain.
It sits on the northeastern coast of Bahrain Island. The city is located along the Persian Gulf. About 743,066 people live in the city as of 2025.
The land here is very low and flat. In recent years, people have made new land from the sea. This helps the city grow through new buildings and business areas.
The weather in Manama follows a desert climate. This means the summers are extremely hot. The winters are much milder and more pleasant. There is very little rain that falls each year.
Most of the city sits near the coast. New parts of the city spread into the desert outskirts. Some areas are even built on artificial islands offshore.
Manama has a history that spans many centuries. People lived on this coast during the Bronze Age. The Dilmun civilisation lived there around 3000 BC. They were a big trading hub for many different groups.
Later, the area saw many different rulers. The Portuguese controlled the area starting in 1521. They built the Bahrain Fort to hold their power.
The Persians also ruled the region for a time.
For a long time, Manama was a place for trade. It was a famous center for finding pearls. Many people used small boats called dhows to find them.
The pearl industry was very important for the economy. In the 1900s, the discovery of oil changed everything. This wealth helped the city grow very fast.
By the 1990s, the city began to focus on new industries. This helped it become a center for money and banks.
Today, Manama is a very important global city. It is a major financial hub in the Middle East. The Arab League named it the capital of Arab culture in 2012.
In 2018, experts called it a beta global city. This means it is a highly connected place in the world.
It remains a vital gateway for the whole region. The city continues to grow and change every day.
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain.
It sits on the northeastern coast of Bahrain Island along the Persian Gulf. As of a 2025 estimate, the city has a population of approximately 743,066 people. Manama serves as a vital gateway for the region. It has evolved from a small trading port into a major modern financial hub.
The city is recognized globally for its economic importance. In 2018, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network named it a beta global city. This status shows how connected Manama is to the rest of the world.
The geography of Manama is defined by its low-lying terrain. The city is located in a desert climate. This means summers are extremely hot and winters are mild. Annual rainfall is very low in this region.
Because space is limited on the island, the city has grown through land reclamation. This process involves creating new land from the sea to expand the coastline. This allows for rapid urban and economic development. Modern infrastructure and financial districts now spread into the desert outskirts. Some residential and business areas are even built on offshore artificial islands.
Manama's history begins thousands of years ago. Evidence of human settlement exists on the northern coast dating back to the Bronze Age. The Dilmun civilisation inhabited the area around 3000 BC. They functioned as a key regional trading hub. They connected Mesopotamia, Magan, and the Indus Valley Civilisation. Archaeologists have found about 100,000 Dilmun burial mounds in the north and central regions. These mounds date back as far as 5,000 years. While the population was mostly rural, a large number of people lived in the area.
Following the Dilmun era, many different empires controlled the island. The Assyrians ruled for over a century starting in 700 BC. Later, the Babylonians, Achaemenids, and Greeks all had influence here. During the classical era, the Roman writer Pliny the Elder called the island Tylos. He wrote about its famous pearls and cotton fields. After the conversion of Bahrain to Islam in 628 AD, the region changed again. Work on the Khamis Mosque began as early as the seventh century AD.
Manama was first mentioned by name in a manuscript in 1345 AD.
Control of the city shifted frequently between various powers. The Portuguese Empire took control of Bahrain in 1521. They built the Bahrain Fort to consolidate their power on the outskirts of Manama.
The Safavid Persians expelled the Portuguese in 1602. During the Safavid era, the islands remained a center for Twelver Shi'ism scholarship. The economy flourished through date palm farms and the export of pearls. At one time, the yearly income from exported pearls reached 600,000 ducats. This was supported by about 2,000 pearling dhows.
In the 19th century, political instability affected the local economy. Invasions by the Omanis and Wahhabis made Manama a major battleground. This instability caused the port to close and many merchants to flee. However, British influence eventually brought more stability to the region. Britain signed the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship with Bahrain in 1861. This agreement placed Britain in charge of defending the islands. By 1919, Bahrain was officially integrated into the British Empire as an overseas imperial territory.
The 20th century brought massive changes through the discovery of oil. This wealth spurred very fast growth across the country. In the 1990s, Bahrain began a concerted effort to diversify its economy. This helped transform Manama into a major financial hub in the Middle East. The city has moved away from relying solely on oil and pearls. It now focuses on many different industries.
Today, the city is a mix of historic sites and modern skylines. It remains a central part of the Persian Gulf's economy and culture.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (16)
+ 4 more
More to explore
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.