Map of Al Muharraq, Bahrain

Facts about Al Muharraq

Country	Bahrain
State	Al Muharraq
Founded	5 AD
Area	12 km2
Population	176583
Lat Long Coordinates	26°15′N50°37′E
Time Zone	UTC+3
Language	Arabic
Major Religion	Muslims and Christanity
Point of interest	Shaikh Isa bin Ali House
	Asry Beach
	Muharraq souq

Al Muharraq was the former capital of Bahrain until 1923. It has long been a centre of religiosity. The city still remains a stronghold of Bahrain's main Salafist party, Asalah. Al Muharraq is one of the most conservative cities of Bahrain where women still follow the purdah system.

The origin of the city of Al Muharraq dates back to some five thousand years ago, but it came into prominence during the Tylos era when Bahrain was dominated by the Selucid Greeks. In those days, Al Muharraq was the centre of pagan cult dedicated to the shark God, Awal. The inhabitants of the city who mainly depended upon seafaring and fishing for their livelihood, religiously worshipped Awal, in the form of a large statue of a shark.

Al Muharraq had become a major centre of Nestorian Christianity, by the fifth century AD. The names of several villages in Al Muharraq still reflect this Christian legacy.

Al Muharraq houses the Bahrain International Airport, although some people want to shift it on the grounds of noise pollution. The Al Muharraq Island is even the home of Muharraq Club, which is the oldest sports club in the entire Gulf Region. AMWAJ Island, a man-made island is located close to Al Muharraq and has many luxury hotels, beaches and huge buildings. Other historic places of interest include Shaikh Isa bin Ali House, Siyadi House, Arad Fort, the wind towers and the neighborhood of journalist Abdullah Al Zayed House.

While on your visit to Al Muharraq, you can book your rooms in Moevenpick Hotel which has a unique blend of Swiss and Arabian hospitality.