Population: 189,114
District Area: 64.80 km2
Leader: Salman bin Isa bin Hindi
Name and Etymology:
The origin of the name "Muharraq" is uncertain. In ancient times the area was known as Arwad.
Economy:
Muharraq was Bahrain's largest city and capital until 1932. It is the site of Bahrain's international airport and several major development projects.
History:
Muharraq was apparently ruled from Tylos, Lebanon under the Seleucid Empire. During this time it was a trade center and the inhabitants worshipped a shark god. In the 5th century, the inhabitants converted to Nestorian Christianity. The city passed to the Portuguese in the 16th Century and the Persians in the 17th, before passing to the Al Khalifah dynasty in 1783.
