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The book addresses the physical development of Manama through history from its original state to the present days, and examines the different socio-economic and political factors and/or shifts that shaped its urban structure. The metamorphosis of the city consists of three stages: the Urbanism of Autonomy: that reflects Manama during the pre-oil era, the Urbanism of Bureaucracy that represents Manama under the British protectorate and after the independence, and the Urbanism of Globalization that shows the present effects of globalisation. its morphology is analysed accordingly.
Initially, Manama was founded as a coastal city that is based on pearl diving, trading and fishing. It also relied in its subsistence on nearby villages that provided agricultural goods and that were gradually engulfed by continuous extensions. Political and economic factors, coupled with the strategic location and availability of land turned it into a regional capital for the Gulf during the British colonial era.
Its growing importance was further reinforced by the discovery of oil in early thirties of the last century that led to the mushrooming of financial and administrative institutions within its old urban fabric. This shift had also a direct impact on its regional territory.
Oil continued to shape the city after independence, and reached its peak impact during its boom during the seventies. Motorisation generated an unprecedented extension of the road network and thus became the major originator of urbanisation. Paradoxically, it witnessed an outward migration of its local population to the new settlements consequently to the increase in the public incomes and living standards.
Manama thus gradually turned into an administrative and business centre but also a residential area for low income expatriates who represented in 1980 more than 60% of the total population a fact that is still causing serious problems of maintenance and urban management.
In a mixture of nostalgia - to get the regional role back - and an attempt to respond to globalisation, and diversify economic resources, finance and tourism sectors are now being promoted through the up-grading and development of infrastructure, deregulation of administrative and financial procedures for foreign investment and mega projects to take place.
In a desperate attempt to save its identity and face competitiveness from giant hypermarkets located in the outskirts, the old core of the city that is still maintaining most of its traditional pattern as an old souq, is being transformed into a tourist centre.
The Author:
Mustapha Ben-Hamouche, Mphil Housing, Doctorate in Urban Planning (Paris VIII University), Doctorate Associate Professor.
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