Muharraq
{{about|city of Muharraq|the island|Muharraq Island|the administritive division|Muharraq Governorate}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Muharraq
| other_name =
| native_name = المحرق
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| image_skyline = {{multiple image
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| image1 = Skyline de Muharraq, Baréin, 2024-08-18, DD 31.jpg
| caption1 = Muharraq skyline
| image2 = Muharraq Masjid Shaikh Isa bin Ali Minarett.jpg
| caption2 = Minarett of the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Mosque
| image3 = Bahrain's Pearling Pathway (18640000885).jpg
| caption3 = Pearling pathway
| image4 = Muharraq Blick auf das National Theatre of Bahrain 1.jpg
| caption4 = View from Muharraq to the National Theatre
}}
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| pushpin_map = Bahrain
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Bahrain
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Bahrain
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_name1 = Al Muharraq Governorate
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| area_total_km2 = 57.50
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| area_total_sq_mi = 22.21
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| population_as_of = 2012
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| population_density_km2 = 3291
| population_density_sq_mi = 8520
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| coordinates = {{coord|26|15|N|50|37|E|region:BH|display=inline}}
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Muharraq{{efn|{{IPAc-en|m|u|h|ɑr|ə|k}}}} ({{langx|ar|المحرق|al-Muḥarraq}}) is Bahrain's third most populous city{{efn|After the capital Manama and Riffa}} and served as its capital until 1932 when it was replaced by Manama."Al Khalifa." Al Khalifa. Retrieved on 24 December 2011."[http://looklex.com/e.o/muharraq.htm]." Ibn Utub. Retrieved on 24 December 2011. 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.{{cite web |title=Al-Muḥarraq |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/al-Muharraq |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=2025-06-06}}
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.{{cite web |title=Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1364/ |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=2025-06-06}}
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.{{cite web |title=Human Development Reports: Bahrain |url=https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/BHR |website=UNDP Human Development Reports |access-date=2025-06-06}} The city has experienced development through infrastructure expansion and economic diversification, including tourism and finance, while maintaining its cultural heritage.{{cite web |title=Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 |url=https://www.bahrain.bh/wps/portal/en/vision2030 |website=Government of Bahrain |access-date=2025-06-06}} 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.{{cite web |title=GCC Overview |url=https://www.gcc-sg.org/en-us/AboutGCC/Pages/default.aspx |website=Gulf Cooperation Council Official Site |access-date=2025-06-06}}
History
File:Muharraq Town and Causeway 1953.png
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.Encyclopædia Britannica: [http://www.britannica.com/place/al-Muharraq Al-Muḥarraq].
{{Coord|26|15|N|50|37|E|type:isle|display=title}}
Culture
The city is recognized as a "Design City" by UNESCO.
Economy
Gulf Air has its headquarters in Muharraq,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. and Bahrain Air formerly had its headquarters in the Mohamed Centre in Muharraq."[http://www.bahrainair.net/page.php?page=contact Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611210702/http://bahrainair.net/page.php?page=contact |date=11 June 2010 }}." Bahrain Air. Retrieved on 22 June 2010."[http://www.bahrainair.net/page.php?page=HQ-map HQ Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611210752/http://bahrainair.net/page.php?page=HQ-map |date=11 June 2010 }}." ([http://www.bahrainair.net/english/images/about/bahrain-air-map.jpg image] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611212854/http://bahrainair.net/english/images/about/bahrain-air-map.jpg |date=11 June 2010 }}) Bahrain Air. Retrieved on 22 June 2010.
Government and infrastructure
Building 586 in Muharraq houses the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Affairs, an agency of the Ministry of Transportation."[http://mot.gov.bh/en/contact-us Contact Us]" ([https://archive.today/20140207071715/http://mot.gov.bh/en/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" [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 "
Education
File:Traditional Bahrain door.jpg
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."[http://www.moe.gov.bh/en/Daleel.aspx#c Directory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902124036/http://www.moe.gov.bh/en/Daleel.aspx#c |date=2 September 2009 }}." Ministry of Education. Retrieved on 8 September 2009.
The French School of Bahrain is located in Busaiteen, in Muharraq Municipality."[http://files.lfbah.webnode.fr/200006479-6e8336f7d2/FRENCH%20SCHOOL%20access%20map.pdf French School Access Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Xz4u7iNI?url=http://files.lfbah.webnode.fr/200006479-6e8336f7d2/FRENCH%20SCHOOL%20access%20map.pdf|date=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.
Firjan (districts)
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
{{Portal|Bahrain}}
{{wikivoyage|Muharraq}}
- Amwaj Islands, man-made islands near Al Muharraq.
- Christianity in Eastern Arabia
Notes
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References
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{{Muharraq Governorate of Bahrain}}
{{Governorates of Bahrain}}
{{Cities of Bahrain}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muharraq}}