Living in Manama, Bahrain:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

Weather conditions are mostly hot and humid. On a hot day, temperatures can exceed 46 celsius. Depending on one’s place of origin, other considerations would be culture and religion since Manama is predominantly Muslim. On the plus side, our country is very welcoming.

Manama, Bahrain, is in a Muslim country, which can create a bit of a cultural learning curve for newcomers. The workweek isn’t Monday to Friday, but Sunday to Thursday. This is to accommodate Friday as a holy day in Islam, the same way Sunday is for Christianity and Saturday is for Judaism. Muslim holidays are recognised by the local governments, so grocery stores will have big Ramadan and Eid sales events every year. You can hear the sounds of prayer broadcast from local mosques at certain times throughout the day.

Manama is bustling with activity. The streets exhibit the local culture and art. It is a great opportunity for shoppers looking for a good bargain but make sure to step out in the evening as it is scorching hot during the day. The city is mostly populated by expat workers.

Bahraini cuisine is delicious and widely available, but if it’s not your taste, then don’t worry. In addition to being able to get a tikka masala or naan within a short walk of your house, Manama is full of Western restaurants that all deliver. There are even local interpretations of traditionally western restaurants, like Jasmi’s a Middle-Eastern counterpart to McDonald’s.

Despite its diminutive size, Manama, Bahrain, is quite the international community. In addition to Bahrain National Day, which celebrates Bahrain’s independence from the British empire, the country celebrates Bahrain International Day, which promotes the sharing of cultures and emphasizes the cosmopolitan nature of the country. English translations are provided everywhere from restaurant menus to mall directories you can even go to a local movie theatre and watch the latest blockbuster without needing to read subtitles.

If you were moving to Manama, know you won’t be discriminated against. Sure, you’d catch a few stares if you were a “foreigner”, but other than that, an outsider would never be made to feel uncomfortable. Arabs are known for their hospitality. things could be worse, the deeper you look.

Manama is a really crowded place and be ready to pay the high rents here. The rooms here are limited and getting one is a big deal. The climate here is pretty humid and hot and rains once in a year so make. Do consider all this before moving to Manama.

Manama is a nice place; however, the weather can get quite warm and humid in summer. It’s also the capital of Bahrain, and is usually really crowded. You should expect to get stuck in traffic very often if you decide to move to Manama. On the other hand, Manama is in the center of Bahrain and should provide you with easy access to all major areas of the island.

Manama is an extremely humid city. Your clothes stick to your body most of the time. Your glasses fog up the second you step outside. The air feels sticky and dry. The simple act of breathing is exhausting. Since it is hard to walk for extended periods of time, people drive everywhere.

Some activities in Bahrain can technically be found elsewhere, such as the indoor trampoline park, the go-karting track, and the indoor skydiving building. Where uniquely local events are concerned, there are larger events such as Bahrain Comic Con which occur annually, and smaller events such as donkey races, open drives on the F1 track, and local craft fairs that crop up every few months or so. The local military base puts on air shows over the field next to Bahrain’s F1 track, a rare event which is accompanied by lotteries and a carnival-like fair.

If you plan to move to Manama, you need to know it’s extremely hot in summer. The heat makes it difficult to walk freely without a means of transpo. You also need to keep in mind that it is in an Islamic country and applies the Islamic law.