Shopper's Paradise: Manama, Bahrain's Best Buys

Manama, the capital of Bahrain, is a popular destination for tourists looking to experience the city's shopping, dining, arts, and entertainment. The city has a diverse range of shopping options, from the traditional souks to modern malls, offering everything from fabrics, gold jewellery, and spices to international designer brands. Manama is also known for its culinary delights, ranging from street food to fine dining, with cuisines from around the world. Beyond shopping and dining, Manama offers cultural and historical attractions, including the Al-Fateh Grand Mosque, Bahrain Fort, and the Bahrain National Museum.

Gold and jewellery

Gold is a popular choice for souvenirs or investments in Manama. The quality of the gold, excellent craftsmanship, and low prices make it a huge draw for visitors. Unlike in the West, where gold is usually 18 carats or less, gold jewellery in Manama is often 21 or 22 carats, with some pieces even made of pure 24-carat gold.

The Gold Souk building near Bab Al Bahrain and the newly-opened Gold City are home to over a hundred jewellery shops, with dozens more in the surrounding area. Gold City, in particular, is a haven for jewellery lovers, with more than 150 merchants dealing in authentic and certified gold and precious stones, offering both traditional and contemporary designs.

In addition to gold, Bahrain is also known for its pearls, which first put the country on the map. Natural pearls from Bahrain are prized for their irregular shapes and varied colours, ranging from cream or white to ochre or even green. Combining gold with pearls creates a stunning piece of jewellery, making Bahrain an excellent destination for those looking to purchase fine jewellery.

For those interested in the history of pearling, a visit to the Bahrain Fort, or Qal'at al-Bahrain, is a must. This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases the country's pearling past and allows visitors to explore the winding stairs and alleys inside the walls, providing evidence of previous civilisations such as the Kassites, Greeks, Portuguese, and Persians.

Manama's souks, including the Bab Al-Bahrain souk, are also excellent places to find gold and jewellery. These traditional markets offer a wide range of items, including gold jewellery, fabrics, lamps, carpets, and spices. The Manama souk, located just beyond Bab Al Bahrain, is a labyrinth of lanes and alleys best explored on foot, with shops ranging from tiny open-air stalls to leading department stores.

Whether you're looking for traditional designs or modern pieces, Manama, Bahrain, offers a wealth of options for gold and jewellery shopping. With its rich history, excellent craftsmanship, and attractive prices, it's no wonder that gold and jewellery are must-buy items when visiting this vibrant city.

Spices

Manama, the capital of Bahrain, is a great place to buy spices. The city has a long history as an important trading centre in the Persian Gulf, and today it continues to be a hub for spices and other goods.

The Manama Souk, located just beyond Bab Al Bahrain, is the perfect place to start your spice shopping. Here, you'll find a range of spice shops offering mounds of colourful, fragrant spices of every possible variety. The souk is a labyrinth of lanes and alleys that is best explored on foot. The vendors are always happy to help you choose the right spices, so don't be afraid to ask for advice.

In addition to the Manama Souk, there are other markets in Manama that sell spices. Souq Waqif, for example, is known for its aromatic spices and fresh seafood. Here, you can find a huge variety of spices alongside clothes, wood, and antique jewellery items. Another option is Muharraq Souq, a local favourite for its gold shops. This market also offers a range of spices, in addition to clothing, jewellery, coffee, and more.

With its diverse population and rich cultural heritage, Manama is a great place to explore and stock up on spices. The city's souks and markets offer a wide variety of options, and the vendors are always happy to help you find the perfect spices to add flavour to your dishes.

Pearls

Bahrain has a long history of pearling, dating back to the 1930s, and it was the country's principal industry before the discovery of oil. The country's pearls are natural, which means their shapes can be slightly irregular, and they vary in colour from cream or white to ochre or even green.

Where to Buy Pearls

The Manama souk, located just beyond Bab Al Bahrain, is a great place to start your pearl-buying journey. Here, you'll find a range of shops and stalls selling pearls and pearl jewellery, including the Manama Pearl Factory, which specialises in manufacturing jewellery made of Bahraini 21-carat gold studded with natural pearls.

Another famous market for pearls is the Al Qusayrya Market, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. Here, you can purchase radiographically certified pearls, as well as enjoy the market's majestic architecture and cafes.

Types of Pearls

When buying pearls in Bahrain, you'll come across two main types: natural saltwater pearls and cultured pearls. Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a parasite or foreign substance, finds its way into a mollusc, and the mollusc reacts by secreting a substance called nacre, which builds up in layers over time to form a pearl. Cultured pearls are created through human intervention, where a small bead or piece of tissue is inserted into the mollusc to stimulate the production of nacre.

What to Look for When Buying Pearls

When choosing a pearl, there are several factors to consider:

• Lustre: This refers to the shine and reflective quality of the pearl's surface. A high-quality pearl should have a bright, sharp lustre that reflects light beautifully.
• Shape: While perfectly round pearls are often considered the most valuable, natural pearls can come in a variety of shapes, including semi-baroque and baroque.
• Colour: Bahrain's pearls come in a range of colours, from cream and white to ochre and even green. The colour you choose will depend on your personal preference.
• Size: Pearl size is measured in carat weight, and larger pearls are typically more valuable.
• Surface quality: Look for pearls with smooth, clean surfaces. Natural pearls may have some minor imperfections, but avoid pearls with significant blemishes or cracks.

Pearl Jewellery

If you're looking for pearl jewellery, you'll find a wide variety of options in Bahrain, from classic pearl stud earrings and necklaces to more elaborate designs combining pearls with gold and other gemstones. The combination of gold and pearls is particularly popular in Bahrain, and you'll find many jewellery shops in Manama offering this stunning combination.

Pearl Certification

When purchasing pearls in Bahrain, look for certified pearls. Bahrain has one of the most respected pearl labs in the world, so a certificate of authenticity from a reputable lab will ensure that you're getting a true natural pearl.

Pearl Prices

The price of pearls in Bahrain can vary depending on their type, quality, size, and colour. Natural saltwater pearls tend to be more valuable than cultured pearls, and larger, more lustrous pearls will also command higher prices.

As an example, a natural pearl necklace with light cream to cream-coloured pearls, weighing a total of 47.40 carats, and certified by Pearl Lab Bahrain, was priced at $9,060.

In conclusion, Manama, Bahrain, offers a wealth of opportunities to purchase beautiful, high-quality pearls and pearl jewellery. With its rich pearling history and tradition, Bahrain is an ideal place to find that perfect pearl souvenir or gift.

Carpets and rugs

Bahrain is known for its beautiful carpets and rugs, and Manama is the perfect place to find them. The Manama Souk, located just beyond Bab Al Bahrain, is a great place to start your search. Here, you will find a variety of shops, from tiny open-air stalls to leading department stores, offering exquisite Persian rugs and gorgeous carpets from Turkey, Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and China.

If you're looking for antique rugs and carpets, Nazmiyal Collection in Manama is the premier source. With over three decades of experience, they offer a comprehensive selection of antique Oriental rugs and antique hand-knotted rugs from various regions, including Persia, Turkey, China, India, Europe, and beyond. Their commitment to customer service and satisfaction is exceptional, and they provide shipping services throughout Bahrain.

When purchasing a rug, it's important to consider the size and placement. For a living room, choose a rug large enough to disappear partly under the sofa, creating a sense of unity in the seating area. In the bedroom, consider placing the bed on a large rug or adding a small faux-fur rug at the foot of the bed for extra warmth. Playing with layers and colours can also create a unique effect, such as layering two or three rugs half over each other.

In addition to the Manama Souk and Nazmiyal Collection, other shops in Manama offer a wide range of rugs. THE One Bahrain, for example, sources rugs from all over the world and is committed to ethical practices, working only with manufacturers who do not use child labour. Their collection features unique, handcrafted rugs made with love by artisans who receive premium wages and support.

Clothes

Manama, the capital of Bahrain, is a great place to shop for clothes. The city has a wide range of options, from tiny open-air stalls in the Manama souk to leading department stores and malls.

The Manama souk, located just beyond Bab Al Bahrain, is a great place to start your shopping trip. Here, you can find a variety of clothing options, ranging from traditional Arabic outfits like abayas to more modern pieces. The souk is known for its labyrinthine lanes and alleys, so it's best explored on foot. You can find everything from small shops selling unique and locally designed clothing to larger stores with international brands.

If you're looking for a more modern shopping experience, Manama also has several malls that offer a wide variety of clothing options. The Seef Mall, for example, is a popular shopping destination that offers a mix of local and international brands. The Bahrain Mall, one of the country's most popular shopping complexes, combines modern and traditional elements and houses well-known stores like Debenhams, BhS, and Marks & Spencer.

For those interested in designer clothing, the Moda Mall in the Bahrain World Trade Center is a great option. This mall features a variety of smaller shops selling different brands of clothing, shoes, and accessories.

In addition to the malls and souks, Manama also has several markets and specialty stores where you can find unique clothing items. The Bab Al-Bahrain souk, for instance, offers traditional textiles and fabrics at reasonable prices. The Al Qusayrya Market, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another great option for clothing, especially if you're looking for authentic, certified pearls to accessorize your outfit.

Whether you're looking for traditional Arabic clothing or the latest fashion trends, Manama, Bahrain, has something for everyone.

Frequently asked questions