The history of the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Manama, began in the mid-14th century. The Portuguese, Iranians, and the dynasty of Bahraini rulers, Al Khalifa, wanted to add the beautiful city to their trophies. The city’s appearance reminds us of that with its unique blend of architectural landmarks of different cultures and styles.

Today, the Bahraini capital is a popular tourist destination and a vital cultural center of the country with a huge national museum, whose exhibits cover 7,000 years, and the ancient stone Qal’at al-Bahrain Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage.

All historical and cultural landmarks are open to tourists, except for the mosques, which accept only faithful Muslims and residents of Bahrain.

The leading shrine of the kingdom and the hallmark of Manama is the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, the first and only mosque in Bahrain open to the public, except holidays and Friday. One of the largest mosques in the world, it is located next to the royal palace. It can accommodate more than 7,000 believers, among whom you can see King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa himself.

The magnificent landmark of sacral architecture was made in the traditional Islamic style but with modern high-tech materials. The central dome of the mosque, weighing over 60 tons, is considered the largest fiberglass dome in the world. The Al Fateh Mosque has four domes; the diameter of the largest one reaches 24 meters. The floor of the legendary mosque is covered with expensive Italian marbles; its massive wooden doors are made of Indian teak, and a luxurious stately chandelier, specially brought to the Kingdom of Bahrain from Austria, illuminates the main prayer hall.

The congregational mosque was built in 1988 with the support of the former Emir of Bahrain Sheik Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and named after the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror.