Madinat Hamad
Encyclopedia
Madinat Hamad is a city in northern Bahrain
. It was a municipality of Bahrain
in the central part of the country. It was split off of the municipality of Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah
in 1991. Its territory is now in the Northern Governorate
. Its name refers to the current king of Bahrain
, Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah
.
In 1990 the government opened the door of Bahrain
to the Kuwaiti people who were suffering from the effects of the gulf war
with Iraq
. It provided free houses and schools in Hamad Town allowed them to use the town’s facilities. The Kuwaitis returned home in early 1991 at the end of the war.
In 2001 the government gave the council houses to the people of Hamad town for free.
In 2011, as part of the ongoing 2011 Bahraini uprising
, the government demolished three mosques it said had housed weapons and illegal activities. The opposition denied these claims, and the act was severely criticized by Islamic scholars in the Middle East.
and 19 km from the airport. It is close to the Sakheer area which contains the huge Formula One
motor racing circuit (Bahrain International Circuit
), which is the biggest circuit in the Middle East.
Hamad Town is famous for its 22 roundabouts. Residential addresses are based on the number of the nearest roundabout. By the Year 2005 the population of the town was 52718. It has now supplanted Isa Town in regard to population density ranking.
. However, governorates are forbidden from passing their own laws and must abide by all national laws of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
to work. Most of Hamad Town is a residential area but there is a large shopping centre called Sooq Waqif which contains lots of shops and provides some employment in Hamad Town itself.
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. It was a municipality of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
in the central part of the country. It was split off of the municipality of Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah
Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah
Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah was a municipality of Bahrain in the southern part of the country. Its territory is now in the Central and Southern Governorates. Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah's population in 2001 was 79,985.- References :...
in 1991. Its territory is now in the Northern Governorate
Northern Governorate
The Northern Governorate is one of the five governorates of Bahrain. It includes parts of the former municipalities of Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah al Shamaliyah, Jidd Haffs and Madinat Hamad....
. Its name refers to the current king of Bahrain
King of Bahrain
The King of Bahrain is the monarch and head of state of Bahrain. Between 1783 and 1971, the Bahraini monarch held the title of Hakim, and, from 1971 until 2002, the title of Emir...
, Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah
Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is the King of Bahrain , having previously been its Emir . He is the son of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the previous Emir.-Early life and education:...
.
History
Hamad Town was set up in 1984 as a 'housing town', where the government built council houses for those who could not afford the ever increasing house prices in other parts of the country.In 1990 the government opened the door of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
to the Kuwaiti people who were suffering from the effects of the gulf war
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
with Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. It provided free houses and schools in Hamad Town allowed them to use the town’s facilities. The Kuwaitis returned home in early 1991 at the end of the war.
In 2001 the government gave the council houses to the people of Hamad town for free.
In 2011, as part of the ongoing 2011 Bahraini uprising
2011 Bahraini uprising
The 2011 Bahraini uprising, sometimes called the February 14 Revolution is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain...
, the government demolished three mosques it said had housed weapons and illegal activities. The opposition denied these claims, and the act was severely criticized by Islamic scholars in the Middle East.
Geography
Hamad Town is 18 km from the capital ManamaManama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
and 19 km from the airport. It is close to the Sakheer area which contains the huge Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
motor racing circuit (Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain International Circuit
The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East. Since 2006, Australian V8 Supercar has been raced at the BIC and the V8 races are named as the Desert 400...
), which is the biggest circuit in the Middle East.
Hamad Town is famous for its 22 roundabouts. Residential addresses are based on the number of the nearest roundabout. By the Year 2005 the population of the town was 52718. It has now supplanted Isa Town in regard to population density ranking.
Law and government
Hamad Town is part of the North Governorate, one of five governorates of BahrainBahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. However, governorates are forbidden from passing their own laws and must abide by all national laws of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Economy
The people of Hamad Town tend to go the capital ManamaManama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
to work. Most of Hamad Town is a residential area but there is a large shopping centre called Sooq Waqif which contains lots of shops and provides some employment in Hamad Town itself.