Description of the attraction
An ancient fortress, the Abu Mahir fort, is located in Khalat abu Mahir, one of the districts of the city of Muharrak. Previously, it was a separate island, but after the expansion of the coastal zone and deepening of the bottom, the island merged with the island of Muharrak, the former village became a district of the city.
Abu Mahir Fort is located in the southern part of the city of Muharraq. It was built during the Portuguese occupation of Bahrain to defend the western approaches to the island of Muharraq and has suffered greatly from time to time. Renovation work in the fortress began in the 1970s, some of the buildings were restored. In 2010, an earlier era foundation was even found on the site, differing in size and shape.
The fort is the first point on the so-called pearl trail of Bahrain (a list of fortresses that protected sea trade routes), which the country's Ministry of Culture managed to inscribe a World Heritage Site in 2012.
The Abu Mahir Museum aims to acquaint visitors with the architectural appearance and history of the fortress, which is directly related to the traditional pearl trade, as well as deepen knowledge of the social components of that era. An illustrated pearl fishing map is installed near the citadel.
With the assistance of the country's Ministry of Culture, daily trips are organized from the Bahrain National Museum to Fort Abu Mahir from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
