Editing Manama (section)

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Bahrain}}
{{About|the capital of Bahrain|the city in Ajman|Manama, Ajman|the similarly named song|Mah Nà Mah Nà}}
{{distinguish|Manana (disambiguation){{!}}Manana|Managua}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Manama
| native_name        = الْمَنَامَة
| native_name_lang   = ar
| settlement_type    = [[Capital city]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image | border = infobox | | perrow = 1/2/2 | total_width = 300 | align = center
| image1 = Manama,_Bahrain_Decembre_2014.jpg
| caption1 = [[List of tallest structures in Bahrain|Skyline of Manama]]
| image2 = Manama al-Fateh Grand Mosque Exterior Norden 3.jpg
| caption2 = [[Al Fateh Grand Mosque]]
| image3 = Bahrain_National_Museum_Exterior.jpg
| caption3 = [[Bahrain National Museum]]
| image4 = Avenues_coastline,_Bahrain.jpg
| caption4 = [[The Avenues, Bahrain|The Avenues]]
| image5 = BAQP_001.tif
| caption5 = [[Beit Al Quran]]
}}
| image_size         = 275px
| nickname           = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_caption      = '''Clockwise from top''': Skyline of Manama; Bahrain National Museum;Beit Al Quran; The Avenues Mall; Al Fateh Grand Mosque
| image_seal         = 
| pushpin_map        = Bahrain#Asia
| pushpin_relief = yes
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Manama in Bahrain
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Bahrain}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Governorates of Bahrain|Governorate]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Capital Governorate (Bahrain)|Capital]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1345 or earlier
| leader_title       = Governor (King)
| leader_name        = Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 30
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| postal_code_type   = [[Block number (Bahrain)|Block number]]
| postal_code        = 3XX–4XX
| population_est     = 297,502
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| population_density_km2 = 5,200
| population_urban   = 727,000
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=Manama Population 1950-2024 |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/cities/20109/manama/population |website=Macrotrends |access-date=8 December 2024}}</ref>
| timezone           = GMT+3
| timezone_DST       = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|26|13|24|N|50|35|15|E|region:BH|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 
| website            = {{URL|capital.gov.bh}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Manama''' ({{langx|ar|الْمَنَامَة}} ''{{Transliteration|ar|el-Menâme}}'', <small>[[Bahrani Arabic|Bahrani]] pronunciation:</small> {{IPA|ar|elmɐˈnɑːmɐ|}}) is the capital and [[List of cities in Bahrain|largest city]] of [[Bahrain]], with an approximate population of 297,502 as of 2012. Long an important trading center in the [[Persian Gulf]], Manama is home to a diverse population. After periods of [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] and [[Persia]]n control and a short invasion from the ruling dynasty of [[House of Saud|Saudi Arabia]], followed by a longer invasion by Oman, Bahrain established itself as an [[sovereign state|independent nation]] in 1971 following a period of British hegemony.

Although the current twin cities of Manama and [[Muharraq]] appear to have been founded simultaneously in the 1800s,{{sfn|Ben Hamouche|2008|p=185}} Muharraq took prominence due to its defensive location and was thus the capital of Bahrain until 1923. Manama became the mercantile capital and was the gateway to the main [[Bahrain Island]].{{sfn|Ben Hamouche|2008|p=186}} In the 20th century, Bahrain's oil wealth helped spur fast growth and in the 1990s a concerted [[diversification (marketing strategy)|diversification]] effort led to expansion in other industries and helped transform Manama into an important financial hub in the [[Middle East]]. Manama was designated as the 2012 [[Arab Capital of Culture|capital of Arab culture]] by the [[Arab League]], and a [[Global city|beta global city]] by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]] in 2018.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120207135843/http://www.manamaculture2012.bh/en/ Manama Capital of Arab Culture 2012]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.moc.gov.bh/en/MinistryNews/News/January2012/Name,6222,en.html |title=Ministry of Culture: Manama as the Bahraini Capital of Arab Culture |access-date=9 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911220834/http://www.moc.gov.bh/en/MinistryNews/News/January2012/Name%2C6222%2Cen.html |archive-date=11 September 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>