Manama, Bahrain; Image Gallery

 

A Hotel in Hoora, Manama, Bahrain

Hoora (Arabic: الحورة‎) is one of the busy parts of Manama, the capital of Bahrain. 

Along with the Central Business District, Adliya, and Juffair, Hoora is considered as one of Manama's nightlife centres, with many bars, hotels, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs (both Arabic and Western), and it is very popular with Arab visitors to Bahrain. 

The Exhibitions Avenue is the most prominent location in Hoora. In the evenings, especially during weekends, this avenue becomes a very busy street with many tourists, locals, and foreigners. 

The area contains several tourist attractions, including one of the world's premier collections of Islamic manuscripts and art, Beit Al Quran, and one of Bahrain's most important cultural spots, La Fontaine Contemporary Arts Centre. 

Apart from bars and restaurants, the Exhibitions Avenue also houses many business establishments like Computer World, Arabian Printing & Publishing Company, Universal Palace, and Gulf Computer Services. 

The GOSI Complex is a shopping complex that is also located on Exhibitions Avenue. The Abu Bakr Siddeeq mosque is a landmark on Exhibitions Avenue and is located beside the Hoora Police Station. Much of the architecture of Hoora is in the traditional Gulf style and dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. 

Abraj Al Lulu, Manama, Bahrain

The Abraj Al Lulu is a large residential project located in Manama, the capital city of Bahrain. The entire project consists of three large towers, two of which have 50 floors and one with 40. The three towers (Gold Pearl, Silver Pearl and the Black Pearl) are located next to the King Faisal Highway, which is close to popular landmarks such as the Pearl Roundabout, NBB Tower, Bahrain WTC and the Bahrain Financial Harbor. The entire project covers a land area of over 23,230 m2 (250,000 sq ft). 

Abraj Al Lulu was constructed by the Al Hamad Contracting Company, following the architectural designs plotted out by the following three architects: 

1. Jafar Tukan 
2. Cowi Al Moayed 
3. Habib Mudara 

The complex, completed in March 2009, can accommodate over 1,100 cars in its four-storey parking lot, and consists of over 860 luxury 1-to-3 bedroom apartments. The skyscrapers of Abraj Al Lulu is one of the many tall buildings of the Manama skyline.

Ahliya University, Manama, Bahrain

Ahlia University (AU) is a private university in Manama, Bahrain, established in 2001. An autonomous institution independently chartered, funded and managed by the private sector, AU is the first private university to be licensed by the Government of Bahrain. The founders articulated their vision of a distinctive institution of higher education to ensure that science and education take their rightful place in the building and advancement of Bahraini society. 

All the professional programmes offered by AU are accredited by Bahrain's Higher Education Council as well as highly reputed and distinguished leading universities in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Ahlia University was among the first Bahraini private universities to be recognized by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Higher Education.

Ahlia University currently consists of six colleges, one deanship and one centre: 

Colleges: 

• College of Arts, Science and Education 

• College of Business and Finance 

• College of Engineering 

• College of Graduate Studies and Research 

• College of Information Technology 

• College of Medical and Health Sciences 

Deanship of Student Affairs 

Media Production Centre

Ahlia University, in collaboration with Brunel University (U.K.), offers a Ph.D. programme Without Residence in the Colleges of Business & Finance and Information Technology. The programme is fully recognized by the UK education authorities and accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Al Fatah Masjid, Manama, Bahrain

The Al-Fateh Mosque (also known as Al-Fateh Islamic Center & Al Fateh Grand Mosque) (Arabic: مسجد الفاتح‎; transliterated: Masjid al-Fatih) is one of the largest mosques in the world, encompassing 6,500 square meters and having the capacity to accommodate over 7,000 worshippers at a time. 

The mosque is the largest place of worship in Bahrain. It is located next to the King Faisal Highway in Juffair, which is a town located in the capital city of Manama. The huge dome built on top of the Al-Fatih Mosque is constructed entirely of fiberglass. Weighing over 60 t (60,000 kg), the dome is currently the world's largest fiberglass dome. The marble used in the floors is Italian and the chandelier is from Austria. The doors are made of teak wood from India. Throughout the mosque are calligraphy writings in a very old type of style called Kufic. The mosque was built by the late Sheikh Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifa in 1987 and was named after Ahmed Al Fateh, the conqueror of Bahrain. In 2006, Al-Fateh became the site of the National Library of Bahrain. 

The library of Ahmed Al-Fateh Islamic Center has around 7000 books, some as old as 100 years or more. These include copies of the books of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad or what is referred to as the books of Hadith, the Global Arabic Encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence, Al-Azhar journals which have been printed more than a hundred years ago, as well as numerous periodicals and magazines. Besides being a place of worship, the mosque is one of the premier tourist attractions in Bahrain. It is open from 9am to 5pm and tours are conducted in a variety of languages including English, French, Filipinno, and Russian. The mosque is closed to visitors and tourists on all Fridays and other holidays.

Al Fateh Masjid in Juffair, Manama, Bahrain

Juffair (Arabic: الجفير‎) is a suburban neighborhood of Manama, Bahrain. It was originally a separate village inhabited by Bahrani Shia Muslims but it has been absorbed by the suburban expansion of Manama, and also includes large parts of land reclaimed from the sea. 

It is now home to many hotels, restaurants, flats, and villas. In fact, Juffair is built on a massive land reclamation scheme which has extended Bahrain's coastline by two kilometers to the east. 

The area is the site of frenetic building activity, with new apartment buildings and hotels constructed each year. Most of those who live in the area are established foreigners or upwardly mobile young Bahrainis. It is also the site of Bahrain's largest mosque, the huge domed Al Fateh Mosque, which houses the new National Library. All Bahraini road calculations are made from the Grand Mosque — Zero Point. 

A British naval installation known as HMS Juffair was established near old Juffair village on April 13, 1935 in the area where ASU-SWA is located today. In 1950, the United States Navy leased office space aboard HMS JUFFAIR from the British. In 1971, after their treaty expired, the British left Bahrain, granting the island total independence. The United States, through agreement with the Bahraini government, took over part of HMS JUFFAIR, renaming it Administrative Support Unit Bahrain, subsequently Naval Support Activity Bahrain. 

The offices of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Central Informatics Organization, Bahrain Society of Engineers, and the Bahrain Tribune newspaper are all located in Juffair. The Bahrain School and Modern Knowledge School are both also located in Juffair. 

There is a new commercial road in Juffair (Al Shabab Road) that houses many restaurants and retail outlets, such as McDonalds, Chilli's, Nando's, Asian Zyng, Dairy Queen, Hardee's, Starbucks, Abraj Grills, and Burger King etc. The road also has Juffair's only pharmacy, "Juffair Pharmacy". Near the entrance of Juffair, there is a building called Murjan Shopping Center that has a large supermarket, a restaurant, Post Office, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf coffee shop. 

The American Naval Support Center is located in the Corner of Juffair. 

Almoayyed Towers, Manama Bahrain

Almoayyed Tower (also known as: Dark Tower), is commercial skyscraper located in the Seef neighborhood of Bahraini capital Manama. The tower is regular four-sided structure, with a height of 172 metres (564 ft). Almoayyed consists mostly of office and business complexes. It was a tallest tower in Bahrain until the Bahrain Financial Harbour, Bahrain WTC and the Abraj Al Lulu was constructed. Almoayyed Tower is also known as Dark Tower because of its dark coloring. 

The entire construction process was divided into two Phases. Phase-1 was the construction of the tower itself, and Phase-2 was the construction of the eight-storey car park, which can accommodate over 1000 cars. The first Phase was completed in November 2003, and the second Phase was completed in 2004. Almoayyed was the tallest structure in Bahrain from 2001 till 2008, standing over 172 metres (564 ft) tall, with 42 floors and 6 public elevators, and a total floor space of 48,400 square metres (520,973 sq ft). Almoayyed is built on a 2,024 m2 (21,786 sq ft) footprint area, and is the first building in Bahrain to possess a private helipad, which is built on the top of the building.

Arab Banking Corporation in Diplomatic Area, Manama

The Diplomatic Area (Arabic: المنطقة الدبلوماسية‎; transliterated: al-Mantiqah ad-Diblomasiyah) is an area that is located within the Central Business District of Manama, the capital city of Bahrain, an island kingdom in the Persian Gulf. 

The Diplomatic Area is Manama's financial district, housing hundreds of banks, investment firms and Takaful societies that serve the entire Persian Gulf. It is mainly composed of office blocks and government buildings. 

Most of the government ministries like the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Ministry of Works & Housing and the Ministry of Justice have their offices in the Diplomatic Area. The Central Bank of Bahrain is also head-quartered in the Diplomatic Area. The Diplomatic Area also houses the Public Prosecution and the court of Bahrain. Skyscrapers like the Bahrain World Trade Centre are located in the Diplomatic Area. 

Bahrain National Museum is located in the Diplomatic District along the Manama bay. It is Bahrain's largest and most popular museum. Bait Al-Quran (The House of Quran) is also located in the Diplomatic Area. The House of the Quran was built to accommodate a comprehensive and valuable collection of the Quran and manuscripts, a concept which is unique in the Persian Gulf. 

The Diplomatic Area also has shopping districts within it. The Manama Souk is located in the area. It is Bahrain's Lower end shopping district, with triditional shops and coffee houses. A high-end shopping complex, Moda Mall at The Bahrain World Trade Centre is also located in the area. It houses 160 designer stores such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Fendi, Gucci, Kenzo, Christian Lacroix, Lanvin, Max Mara, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Emporio Armani, Escada, Valentino, Bottega Veneta, Matthew Williamson, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli and more. The mall also features some of the finest jewelry brands including De Beers, Tiffany & Co., Boucheron, Chopard, Van Cleef & Arpels, Folli Follie, Cartier, Rolex, among others. 

There are a number of hotels in the Diplomatic area, mostly high-end. One among them, something of an institution in Manama, is the aptly named 'Diplomat Hotel'. As of 2010, the 'Dip' is managed by Radisson Hotels.

Bab Al Bahrain, Manama Bahrain

Bab Al Bahrain (Arabic: باب البحرين‎, Bāb al-Baḥrayn) means Gateway of Bahrain. It is located in the Customs Square in Manama's former central business district (CBD) and marks the main entrance to the Manama souq. Designed by Sir Charles Belgrave, adviser to the Emir and completed in 1945, Bab Al Bahrain once stood close to the water's edge. Due to extensive land reclamation in the later years, one needs to walk more than 10 minutes to get to the sea. 

Government Avenue, which runs alongside Bab Al Bahrain, and the new highway that leads to the causeway to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were built on reclaimed land. Currently, the Bahrain Financial Harbor is being constructed on further reclaimed land. 

The monument itself was refurbished in 1986 to incorporate Islamic architectural features. Today, the ground floor now houses the tourist information office and a handicrafts shop. The monument essentially consists of a huge arch, below which runs a road, which is often referred to as the entrance to the Manama souq (marketplace). 

Government Avenue, which runs in front of Bab Al Bahrain, contains many major banks and business establishments. Government Avenue is so named because the entire offices of the Bahrain government were once housed in the Bab. The Gold City (different from Gold Souq) is a shopping complex for gold ornaments and is also located on Government Avenue. The Indian jewellery giant Alukkas has a branch in Gold City. 

Bahrain Financial Harbour Towers

Bahrain Financial Harbour (commonly abbreviated as BFH) is a large-scale commercial development project in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. 

The commercial complex is located next to the King Faisal Highway, near many popular landmarks such as the Bahrain World Trade Center, Abraj Al Lulu, and the National Bank of Bahrain. The majority of the project is being constructed on reclaimed land. The BFH project consists of multiple construction phases such as: 

• Bahrain Performance Center 

• Commercial East 

• Commercial West 

• Diamond Tower 

• Dhow Harbour 

• Financial Center 

• Harbour Row 

• Hotel 

• Residential North 

• Residential South 

The two tallest twin-towers (Commercial East and Commercial West) are currently listed as the tallest completed towers in Bahrain, with a height of 260 m (853 ft) with 53 floors. 

Bahrain Fort, Manama, Bahrain

The Qal'at al-Bahrain (in Arabic: قلعة البحرين‎, also known as the Bahrain Fort or Fort of Bahrain and previously as the Portugal Fort (Qal'at al Portugal) is an archaeological site located in Bahrain, on the Arabian Peninsula. Archaeological excavations carried out since 1954 have unearthed antiquaries from an artificial mound of 12 m height containing seven stratified layers, created by various occupants from 2300 BC up to the 18th century, including Kassites, Portuguese and Persians. It was once the capital of the Dilmun civilization and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

The archaeological finds unearthed in the fort reveal much about the history of the country. The area is believed to have been occupied for some 5000 years and contains a valuable insight into the copper and Bronze Ages of Bahrain. The first Bahrain Fort was built around three thousand years ago, on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island. The present fort dates from the sixth century AD. The capital of the Dilmun civilization, Dilmun was known as the "land of immortality" and the ancestral place of Sumerians, a place where the Gods met.

The site has been termed as Bahrain's "most important site in antiquity" and excavations have been carried out since 1954. The first excavation at the site was carried out by a Danish expedition between 1954 and 1972 which was later followed up by a French expedition from 1977. Since 1987 Bahrain archaeologists have been involved with this work. The archaeological findings have revealed seven civilizations of urban structures beginning with Dilmun empire, the most important ancient civilizations of the region. The Danish expedition revealed that it was a notable Hellenistic site.

The fort and the tel are located on the Bahrain island, 6 km from the seashore towards the Northeast. On a clear day it is also seen from Saar. It stands like a "sentinel" near Manama, the capital of Bahrain; it is 4 km away from Manama in the fertile north coast. The tel is the largest in the Gulf region and was built close to the port and built by reclamation of seashore land.

Qal`at al-Bahrain is a typical tell — an artificial mound created by many successive layers of human occupation. The strata spread over an area 180000 sqft, laid out over the 300×600m tell, testifies to continuous human presence from about 2300 BC to the 16th century AD. About 25% of the site has been excavated revealing structures of different types: residential, public, commercial, religious and military. They testify to the importance of the site as a trading port over the centuries. On the top of the 12m high mound, there is the impressive Qal`at al-Burtughal (Portuguese fort), which gave the whole site its name, qal`a, meaning "fort}. The site was the capital of the Dilmun, one of the most important ancient civilizations of the region. It contains the richest remains inventoried of this civilization, which was hitherto only known from written Sumerian references.

The site contains many areas and walls, including Saar necropolis, Al-Hajjar necropolis, Kassite Palace, Madimat Hermand necropolis, Madimat Isa necropolis, Al-Maqsha Necropolis, Palace of Uperi, Shakhura necropolis, and the Northern city wall. The ruins of the copper age consists of two sections of the fortification wall and the streets and houses immediately within it and a colossal building on the edge of the moat of the Portuguese fort in the centre. Barbar pottery has been unearthed around the walls of the central building, dating back to the same age as the Barbar Temples, although other pottery and range of artefacts unearthed indicated some of them predated the temples, dating back to 3000 BC or later. Relics of copper and ivory provide an insight into ancient trade links. Many vessels have been unearthed on the site, and Danish excavations of the Palace of Uperi area revealed "snake bowls", sarcophagus and a mirror, and many others.

The excavations of the tel has revealed a small settlement, the only one of that period in all of eastern Arabia, on its northern side. It has been inferred that the village was settled by people who developed agriculture near the oasis, planted palm trees, tended cattle, sheep and goat and also ventured into fishing in the Arabian Sea. The small houses that they built were made of rough stone with clay and or mortar as binding material. The houses had with plastered floors and were spacious. The village had well laid out streets.

The fortifications seen in the excavated tel area were found around the township and were erected in cardinal directions. The fort walls are seen now only in the northern, western and southern slopes of the tel, and the eastern side is yet to be excavated. The fortifications covered an area of 15 ha and the walls were built with varying thickness with stone masonry with gates to allow for donkey carrying loads to pass through. The fortifications were frequently raised, as noted from the gates erected at four levels; the latest gate had two polished stone (made of fine grained material) pivots to fix a double leafed gate. The western wall was seen well preserved for a length of 30 ft. The streets were laid in north-south direction and were 12 m wide.

In the centre of the tel was a palace at a commanding location consisting of several warehouses which was inferred as indicative of economic activity of the Dilmun period. Proceeding from here towards the north along the street leads to a large gate that probably was the entry to the palace grounds. The modest houses built to the same size and type of construction were laid along a network of roads.

The place prospered till 1800 BC where after it was deserted. Eventually the town became covered with drift sand from the sea.

Metal artifacts found in the tel were limited to copper pieces, a socketed spearhead, fishing tools; a workshop of 15x35 m size was also identified where copper casting two piece moulds and wax moulds were found. small and large crucibles used for melting of the metal were recovered in substantial quantities indicative of large scale manufacture by professional artisans. This is also indicative of trading in such copper ware with Oman and Mesopotamia. Stamp seals of the Dilmun type were also recovered from the excavations.

Pots and vessels were also found. Pots are confirmation of use for cooking. The large vessels were used for import of food and drinks from Oman and Mesopotamia. Several artifacts found, such as a cuneiform inscription and hematite link to Mesopotamia, steatite bowls are from Oman, and carnelian beads, a stone weight and a few potsherds are inferred as from the Indus Civilization.  

Bahrain International Airport, Manama, Bahrain

Bahrain International Airport (IATA: BAH, ICAO: OBBI) (Arabic: مطار البحرين الدولي‎) is an international airport located in Muharraq, an island on the northern tip of Bahrain, about 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of the capital Manama. It is the primary hub for Gulf Air and Bahrain Air. 

A BD113m ($300 million) expansion and refurbishment program was launched in the third quarter of 2006 which will see the creation of a new multi-storey car park and retail complex adjacent to the main terminal building. The expansion also includes a full resurfacing of the main runway, a new perimeter fence, state-of-the-art security systems and additional aircraft parking bays. Runway 12R/30L is mostly used as a taxiway. 

A significant portion of passengers served by the airport are Saudis and Western expats working in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Designated bus and limousine services move passengers from Dammam, Khobar and other Saudi cities to Bahrain Airport. Many passengers from the Eastern Province choose not to use the mainland King Fahd International Airport. This is largely because it is economical for some airlines to operate only from Bahrain, giving more flight options to passengers from Bahrain Airport and the convenience provided by the King Fahd Causeway. 

The airport has a three star rating from Skytrax's airport grading exercise. In 2010, Bahrain Airport was named as the winner of the Best Airport in the Middle East Award at the Skytrax 2010 World Airport Awards. 

The first scheduled commercial airliner to arrive in Bahrain, in 1932, was a flight from London to Delhi operated on a Handley Page H.P.42 aircraft named "Hannibal." The H.P.42 carried only 24 passengers, and the flight from London had taken several days of flying at speeds of 100 miles per hour. Through this regularly scheduled service, Bahrain became established as the Persian Gulf's first international airport. 

During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Force Air Transport Command Central African Wing, being designated as Station # 13. It functioned as a stopover en-route to Abadan Airport, Iran or Sharjah Airport, in present day UAE on the Karachi-Cairo route. From 1943 until Bahrain's independence in December 1971, the Royal Air Force maintained a military installation at the airfield known initially as RAF Bahrain and from 1963 as RAF Muharraq. The majority of these facilities were later acquired by the Bahraini flag carrier airline, Gulf Air, while a small portion continues to be utilized by the U.S. Navy as Aviation Support Unit (ASU) Bahrain. 

In 1936, the operation of H.P.42 aircraft from London to India via Bahrain had been stepped up to a twice-weekly frequency. In 1937, Bahrain saw the regular service of the Empire sea planes. The landing strip of these giants on the water was from where the marina club is located in Mina Salman today. From the 1950s, BOAC operated several services a week through Bahrain. These included weekly services to Karachi, Singapore, Hong Kong and three times a week to Sydney. 1950 was a significant year not only for Muharraq as an international airport, but also for Bahrain's own commercial aviation history. In this year, a new local airline, Gulf Aviation Company, was formed - the forerunner of Gulf Air. The company started with only one aircraft, a second-hand Anson Mark II, which was used initially on services to Dhahran. But within two years, the fleet had expanded to four de Havilland aircraft and DC-3s for use on a steadily growing network in the Persian Gulf. This established Bahrain as an international stage. It was easily the most modern and advanced airport in the Persian Gulf with a good runway, control tower, lighting, communication facilities and even restaurants. It began to attract other carriers such as Middle East Airlines, Air India, Air Ceylon and Iran Air - mostly operating Dakotas. In December 1961, a new passenger terminal opened at the airport. During 1970–1971, RAF Muharraq was scaled back and eventually closed. In December 1971, the airport opened new passenger facilities, which included a wide area that could accommodate four 747 aircraft. In 1976, the airport marked another significant first with the inauguration of supersonic flights, which saw the start up of regular BA Concorde service between London and Bahrain. In the 1980s and 1990s, major facelifts took place and all the major airline companies made the airport a destination. In 1994, a US$ 100 million terminal was inaugurated. 

It was announced on October 8, 2009 that BHD 1.8 billion expansion of Bahrain International Airport is going to start in 2010. The expansion, planned over the next 30 years, will triple the passenger capacity to 27 million a year. Work on the airport's expansion officially began in June 2011 and is expected to be completed by 2015. The expanded airport will increase the airport's size by an additional 40,000m², including more than 3,000m² of new retail facilities. It will also create 4 to 5 additional contact gates, 9 remote gates and 40 more check-in counters as well as an enlarged transfer facility amongst several other capacity improvements and value added facilities. 

Two new terminals will be opened in the next four years as part of the expansion. Terminal Two will be commissioned by 2012 and Terminal 1A will become operational a year later. The expansion will include all modern facilities, including leisure areas, shopping centers, hotels and anything else that a modern traveler needs, will be incorporated in the new development. The expansion will also include a swimming pool. The present terminal building (Terminal 1) will be demolished in 2014 and replaced with a brand new state-of-the-art structure within a few years. Construction of Terminal 2 will begin early in 2010. There will be 110 aircraft stands including 87 with contact gates and 23 without. This also includes 17 new remote aircraft parking bays, installation of automatic baggage screening facilities, improved ground handling and overall new passenger handling standards. 

The cargo handling capacity will also increase from the present 350,000 cubic meters to 1.5 million cubic meters. All ground handling facilities at the airport were being enhanced in collaboration with the company that manages Munich Airport in Germany. A new VIP terminal and an Airport Center that will includes shops, entertainment facilities and car parking will be developed as part of the project. 

There are plans to build light rail lines which would connect the airport to the rest of Bahrain.

Manama, Souq, Manama, Bahrain

Manama Souq (Arabic: سوق المنامة‎) is the old bazaar (souk) of Bahrain's capital, Manama. It lies in the north of Manama, in-between the old parts of the city and the Central Business District, to the east of Noaim and west of Ras Rumman. The area also is home to Bahrain's only synagogue. 

The souq is divided into a number of quarters, including: 

• Fareeq el-Fadhel 

• Fareeq el-Hammam 

• Fareeq el-Hatab 

• Fareeq el-Makharqa 

• Fareeq Mushbir

Bahrain World Trade Centre, Manama, Bahrain

The Bahrain World Trade Center (also called Bahrain WTC or BWTC) is a 240 m (787 ft) high twin tower complex located in Manama, Bahrain. The towers were built in 2008 by the multi-national architectural firm Atkins. It is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design. 

This 50-floor structure is constructed in close proximity to the King Faisal Highway, near popular landmarks such as the towers of BFH, NBB, Abraj Al Lulu and the scenic Pearl Roundabout. It currently ranks as the second tallest building in Bahrain, after the twin towers of the Bahrain Financial Harbour. The project has received several awards for sustainability, including; 

1. The 2006 LEAF Award for Best Use of Technology within a Large Scheme. 
2. The Arab Construction World for Sustainable Design Award. 

The two towers are linked via three skybridges, each holding a 225kW wind turbine, totalling to 675kW of wind power production. Each of these turbines measure 29 m (95 ft) in diameter, and is aligned north, which is the direction from which air from the Persian Gulf blows in. The sail-shaped buildings on either side are designed to funnel wind through the gap to provide accelerated wind passing through the turbines. This was confirmed by wind tunnel tests, which showed that the buildings create an S-shaped flow, ensuring that any wind coming within a 45° angle to either side of the central axis will create a wind stream that remains perpendicular to the turbines. This significantly increases their potential to generate electricity. 

The wind turbines are expected to provide 11% to 15% of the towers' total power consumption, or approximately 1.1 to 1.3 GWh a year. This is equivalent to providing the lighting for about 300 homes. The three turbines were turned on for the first time on the 8th of April, 2008. They are expected to operate 50% of the time on an average day. 

The Bahrain WTC was featured prominently in the 2009 science fiction SyFy channel made-for-television movie Annihilation Earth. In the movie, an incident involving a subatomic collider in the year 2020 creates cataclysmic effects on planet Earth. CGI is used in the movie to show the WTC collapsing as a result of an earthquake, though the reason for the earthquake is not fully explained in the movie. 

Bahrain WTC in CBD, Manama, Bahrain

The Central Business District (CBD) of Manama, Bahrain, is the most vital part of the capital. Many of the city's hotels, office buildings, shops and restaurants are located in the CBD. It lies along the northern coast of Manama. 

The CBD is considered one of the best shopping areas in the city; it has the Manama Souq (market, in Arabic), located near the Bab Al Bahrain (the Gateway of Bahrain). The old souq with its old world charm has a wide variety of goods, anything from spices, condiments, textiles, electronics to a dazzling array of jewelry. 

In addition, the Bahrain World Trade Centre and the Bahrain Financial Harbour; this has Bahrain's tallest towers, and many of the country's largest banks and companies are also situated in the CBD.

Moda Mall is a high-end shopping complex in the ground floor of Bahrain World Trade Centre. The Mall is home to some 160 designer stores, including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Gucci, Hermés, Kenzo, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Emporio Armani, Furla, Roberto Cavalli, Vertu, Ermenegildo Zenga, Agent Provocateur, Versace, Bottega Veneta, Escada, Max Mara, Loewe, Mathew Williamson, Valentino, Viktor & Rolf, amongst others. The mall will also house some of the finest jewellery stores such as De Beers, Tiffany & Co., Boucheron, Chopard, Chanel Jewellery, Van Cleef & Arpels and Folli Follie among others.

an Hotel in Gudaibiyah, Manama, Bahrain

Gudaibiya (Qudaibiya) is a neighbourhood in Manama, the capital city of Bahrain. 

An older part of the city, yet it is one of the busy areas, Gudaibiya is a bustling highly cosmopolitan area and home to many new arrivals in the Kingdom, as well as government offices including parliament. It has large numbers of Indian, Filipino, Ethiopian and Pakistani residents. It is the site of the Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh Poetry House, a leading cultural centre, which is the house of the late Bahraini poet, Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh. It contains the Al-Qudaibiya Palace.

Gudaibiyah Guest Palace, Adliyah, Manama, Bahrain

Adliya (Arabic: العدلية) is the bohemian neighborhood in Manama, Bahrain. 

The district is a multicultural, busy area, a home to commerce, culture and entertainment, and it is considered as one of the four centres of Manama's nightlife. In the last few years, many of the old townhouses have been turned into art galleries, cafes and chic restaurants. 

As a result of the developing trend, Adliya is known for its clustered cafes, art galleries, bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, including popular venues, such as BJ's, JJ's, Lilou's and Candle's. Adliya attracts many residents and tourists. 

The Al Riwaq Gallery is one of Bahrain's best private galleries, located in a two-story converted townhouse, with a bookshop on the first floor.

Pearl Roundabout, Manama, Bahrain

Pearl Roundabout or Lulu Roundabout (Arabic: دوار اللؤلؤ(ة)‎ Dawwār al-luʾluʾ(ah), "Roundabout of the pearl(s)") was a roundabout located near the financial district of Manama, Bahrain. The roundabout was named after the pearl monument that previously stood on the site and was destroyed on March 18, 2011, by government forces as part of a crackdown on protesters during the Bahraini uprising (2011–present). 

The roundabout was located in the heart of the capital Manama and was surrounded by the Bahrain Central Market, Marina, Pearl and City Center Roundabout as well the Abraj Al Lulu (Pearl Towers) apartment complex, which is named after the Pearl Monument. Also near the destroyed roundabout are some of the city's major remaining landmarks, including the Bahrain World Trade Center and the Bahrain Financial Harbour. 

The roundabout served originally as a major traffic intersection for routes into the capital city, although it is now bypassed by a flyover and junction complex built as part of Bahrain's 2030 modernization plan. 

The Pearl Monument previously stood in the center of the circle, having been erected in 1982 on the occasion of the third summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was hosted by Bahrain for the first time in Manama on November 9-11 of that year. 

The Pearl Monument consisted of six dhow "sails" projecting up to the sky, which came together to hold a pearl at the top. The six sails designated the Gulf Cooperation Council's six member nations, while the pearl symbolized their united heritage and the country's famous history of pearl cultivation. At the base of the monument was a dodecagonal pool with fountain jets. The Pearl Monument is featured on the face of the Bahraini half-dinar coin, the highest value coin in Bahraini currency. The Central Bank of Bahrain reportedly asked banks to exchange their half-dinar coins for half-dinar banknotes after the Pearl Monument was destroyed. The coin is no longer minted or distributed by the Central Bank of Bahrain. 

On the morning of March 18, 2011, the government tore down the Pearl Monument, announcing on state broadcaster BTV that the monument had been "violated" and "desecrated" by the "vile" anti-government protests, and had to be "cleansed." In the government's haste, a migrant crane worker was crushed to death by a falling cement arch.

Ras Rumman, Manama Bahrain

Ras Rumman (Arabic: رأس الرمان‎) is a neighborhood of Manama in Bahrain. Historically it was a separate village of its own, however with the expansion of Manama, it became incorporated in to the capital city as one of its neighbourhoods. It lies to the east of the Manama Souq and roughly south of the Diplomatic Area. It has traditionally had a Shia Baharna identity with a tradition of date palm cultivation. The British Embassy of Bahrain is located in Ras Rumman. It also contains the Ras Rumman Mosque.

King Fahad Causeway

The King Fahd Causeway (Arabic: جسر الملك فهد‎, Jisr al-Malik Fahd) is a causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The idea of constructing the causeway was based on improving the links and bonds between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Surveying of the maritime began in 1968, and construction began in 1981 and continued until 1986, when it was officially opened to the public. 

The idea of building a bridge linking the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Eastern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had been enticing the two kingdoms for generations. The idea was born out of King Saud's wish to nurture and further solidify the brotherly bond between the two Kingdoms, during an official visit to the State of Bahrain in 1954. 

In 1965, the desire to construct the causeway began to take form officially when Shaikh Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah the Prime Minister of the State of Bahrain paid a courtesy visit to King Faisal and the king expressed his wish to have the causeway constructed. 

In 1968, both countries formed a joint committee to assess the financial undertaking required for the task. As a result the World Bank was requested by the committee to contribute their assistance in methods of implementation of the mammoth-sized project. This required taking into account the environmental and geographical aspects of the Saudi-Bahrain region. 

In the summer of 1973, King Faisal, in a meeting which included Amir Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa as well as the then prince, Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, suggested that committee overlook the economic and financial aspects of the project and concentrate on the actual construction of the causeway. 

In 1975, the World Bank submitted its study and advice after seeking assistance from specialist international expertise in studying the geographic, environmental factors and maritime currents. 

In the spring of 1976, during a visit by King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz to Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the two monarchs agreed to set up a ministerial committee from the two countries to work on the implementation of the project. 

On 8th July 1981, Mohammed Aba Al-Khail, the then minister for Finance and National Economy of Saudi Arabia and Yousuf Ahmed Al-Shirawi, the then minister of Industrial Development in Bahrain signed an agreement to start construction on the maritime causeway. 

On 11th November 1982, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa unveiled the curtain on the Memorial Plaque during a formal ceremony attended by the leaders of the GCC states marking the beginning of the project. 

On 11th April 1985, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain pressed the button required to install the final part of the box bridges thereby finally linking Saudi mainland with the island of Bahrain. On 26th November 1986, the causeway was officially inaugurated in the presence of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia and His Royal Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Emir of the State of Bahrain, with the latter consenting heartily to naming the bridge King Fahd Causeway. 

As of 2010, it is estimated that number of vehicles using the causeway is about 25,104 daily. The total number of travelers across the causeway from both countries in the year 2010 was 19.1 million passengers, or an average of 52,450 passengers per day. 

The project cost a total of US$800 million (SAR3 billion). One of the major contractors of the project was Ballast Nedam, based in the Netherlands. The four-lane road is 25 km (16 mi) long and approximately 23 m (75 ft) wide, and was built using 350,000 m2 (3,800,000 sq ft) of concrete along with 47,000 metric tonnes of reinforced steel. The causeway is constructed in three segments starting from Saudi Arabia: 

1. From Al-Aziziyyah, south of Khobar, to the Border Station 
2. From the Border Station to Nasan Island in Bahrain 
3. From Nasan island to the Al-Jasra, west of Manama, on the main island of Bahrain. 

The Border Station is located on embankment No.4, which, with a total area of 660,000 square meters, is the biggest of all embankments. The buildings of King Fahd Causeway Authority and other government Directorates were erected on the Border Station, as well as two mosques, two Coast Guard towers and two 65 m (213 ft) high tower restaurants. The border station also has extensive landscaping all around the islands in addition to the services and road stations. 

The Border Station was designed as two connected islands, where the west side is designated to Saudi Arabia and the east to Bahrain. The Saudi side of the Border Station has outlets of McDonald's & Kudu. 

On July 6, 2010, Saudi newspapers quoted King Fahd Causeway Authority chief Bader Abdullah Al-Otaishan as saying that the King Fahd Causeway was to undergo a major expansion projected to cost $5.3 million. It was announced that the number of departure lanes would be increased from 10 to 17 and the number of arrival lanes from 13 to 18 on both sides. The renovation includes construction of a commercial center on the Bahraini side. 

“It will have a number of restaurants, coffee shops, a grocery shop, telephone stalls and a shop to meet travelers’ needs,” said Al-Otaishan. “We saw that there was a need for such a center to assist travelers.” With points where there can be climate controlled washrooms and meeting places, the average traveler can be facilitated better. He said work is under way and the center will be completed by the first quarter of next year. A Bahraini health center is also being built to serve travelers and causeway staff. “It will feature an emergency room and ambulance to serve whoever is using the causeway — travelers or employees,” he said, noting a Saudi health center is also planned for 2011. A security checkpoint will be set up near the Bahraini entrance of the causeway, in addition to the one near the Saudi entrance. “It will allow us to control the causeway and close it,” Al-Otaishan said. 

The project also includes expanded public utilities such as washrooms and mosques on both sides of the causeway, to be completed by the end of the year. The two tower restaurants, one Saudi and one Bahraini, will be revamped through a separate project. The towers will be renovated without altering their historic appearance. Al-Otaishan told local newspapers that tenders for the project on the Saudi side had already been approved, with the Bahraini side set to follow suit shortly.

Seef Mall in Seef, Manama, Bahrain

Seef (Arabic: السيف‎) is a suburban neighborhood in Manama, the capital city of Bahrain. 

Seef is a result of active land reclamation work starting in the 1990s, which has dramatically changed the Bahrain coastline. Surrounded on three sides by the sea, Seef is a new zone of reclaimed land containing luxury apartments, hotels and shopping malls. 

Rents in Seef are reportedly the highest in the entire country. Seef is fast developing into a business centre with many local and multinational companies building their offices in the area. Seef is the location of the Almoayyed Tower, which was the tallest building in the country. However it has been overtaken by many other structures since 2005 such as the Bahrain Financial Harbour.

a Villa in Zinj, Manama, Bahrain

Zinj (Arabic: الزنج‎) is a suburb in the city of Manama, Bahrain. New Zinj consists of spacious villas, many overlooking the sea front and Tubli Bay. Old Zinj is an old section adjacent to the village of "Bilad Al Qadeem" (Arabic: بلاد القديم‎). 

Old Zinj houses many historical places such as Al-Saboor Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Bahrain. Al Saboor Mosque is uniquely known to have no ceiling since all efforts to build one have failed. Al-Ahli Club and stadium are located in Zinj. Al-Ahli Stadium holds League A and B football matches.

AlAhli Sports club is also one of the oldest and most respected sports club in the country and Region. The club is famous for winning various regional competitions in football, basketball, and volleyball. The club is also known for being the one which nurtured star player Ala'a Hubail, who currently plays with Al Ahli football club.

Zinj is the home of several foreign embassies including those of the United States of America, Philippines, Indonesia, and Russia, while also being the previous location of the embassy of Pakistan. In 2003, large demonstrations were held in 2003 to protest the Iraq War, held near the American embassy, in which a Bahraini citizen was killed by riot police as a rubber bullet penetrated his eye, several roads in Zinj remain barricaded with concrete blocks, and special security forces are frequently seen in the area at night.