The capital city located on the island nation of Bahrain is Manama.
Manama sits on the northeastern coast of Bahrain Island, beside the Persian Gulf. It is Bahrain’s capital and largest city, as well as the country’s main political, commercial, and financial center. The modern city is connected to neighboring urban areas and reclaimed coastal land, making the metropolitan area appear much larger than the historic core.
Manama developed as a trading port and became especially important through Gulf commerce and the pearl industry. Its name is often linked to an Arabic term meaning “place of rest” or “place of dreams,” although the precise linguistic history is debated. The city was mentioned in Islamic-era texts by about the 14th century.
Muharraq was historically more prominent and served as Bahrain’s capital until 1923. Manama later became the main mercantile capital and gateway to Bahrain Island. When Bahrain became independent in 1971, the newly independent state designated Manama as its national capital. Muscat, Kuwait City, and Doha are also Gulf capitals, but they belong to Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar respectively.