Manama (Arabic: المنامة, Al-Manāmah) is the capital and main economic center of the Kingdom of Bahrain. About 157 thousand people live in the city (2010).
It is located on the northeastern coast of the island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf – where it comes close to the island of Muharraq, in the capital governorate.

History
The first mention of the city is found in Islamic chronicles in 1345. In 1521 the city was captured by the Portuguese, and in 1602 by the Iranians. In 1783, the rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty began.
Manama was declared a free port in 1958 and became the capital of independent Bahrain in 1971.

Economy
The basis of the economy of Manama – like the whole of Bahrain – is the financial market, the construction of coasters – dhows, fishing and pearling. The central square of the city is Zhemchuzhnaya.

In the capital of Bahrain there are a large number of skyscrapers, among which the Bahrain World Trade Center stands out for its unusualness. With the Bahrain International Airport, located on the island of Muharraq, the city is connected by a highway laid along a dam.

Climate
The climate is transitional from tropical to subtropical; the average temperature in January is 16 °C, in August 31 °C, precipitation is about 90 mm per year.

Culture
Manama is home to the University of Bahrain, founded in 1986.
The influence of Western culture, especially British, is strongly felt in the city. City taxi cars are copies of London cabs, floors are numbered according to the British system and many popular bars are decorated in the style of Irish pubs. In specialized stores you can easily buy alcohol, there are a large number of nightclubs and modern cinemas. Largely due to this, as well as a wide network of shopping and entertainment complexes, Manama is gradually strengthening its position as a regional tourist center among the countries of the Persian Gulf.