Bab Al Bahrain or the door of bahrain
is one of Bahrain’s most famous landmarks, known to be the original port of entry to the island. Bab Al Bahrain originally sat on the coastline, but the sea has been pushed several kilometres north due to land reclamation.
Bab Al Bahrain is a historical building located in the Customs Square in the central business district of Manama and officially marks the main entrance to Manama Souq.
Opened in 1949 and designed by the British adviser to the emir, Charles Belgrave, Bab Al Bahrain once stood on the Manama coastline. Seventy two years and with extensive land reclamation later, the structure is now several kilometres inland and no longer the entry gateway to the island.
Opened in 1949 and designed by the British adviser to the emir, Charles Belgrave, Bab Al Bahrain once stood on the Manama coastline. Seventy two years and with extensive land reclamation later, the structure is now several kilometres inland and no longer the entry gateway to the island.
The square that makes up Bab al Bahrain is considered to be the region’s first formal public space.
The monument itself was refurbished in 1986 to incorporate Islamic architectural features, it consists of a huge arch and is referred to as the entrance to the Manama souq (marketplace). The Souq is a place to endow social, economic, cultural and tourism purposes. It is said to have brought unity amongst Baharainis due to them all helping to run the Souq.
The shops in the Souq are set up more as a Bazaar-like shopping experience. Many store owners have an assortment of products and may even yell at to sales pitches to see if you are interested. Here ancient traditions meet modern lifestyle.
You will be able to find discounted electronics and clothing. You can find spices, food, jewellery and cultural items as well. The area will be filled with many aromas from desserts, lunches, and different spices. One thing to remember about the Souq when it comes to different stores, prices are negotiable. Make sure to stop at Gold Souq, a building with dozens of jewellery stores because Bahrain is known for their gold and pearls.
In front of Bab Al Bahrain is Government Avenue. This is where all government offices are located and banks as well. This is a very convenient location for locals as they handle all government related transactions here.
For any tourists visiting Bahrain, a trip to Bab al Bahrain is a must to experience the history of the area as well as visiting the large array of handicraft shops.
Stop to have lunch or dinner at Haji’s Café, a short walking distance from Bab al Bahrain and end your visit on a sweet tooth by visiting the many different traditional sweet shops in Bab Al Bahrain.