Bahrain is a country located in the Persian Gulf. It is actually an archipelago comprising of 33 islands. Bahrain has a very old history that could be more than 5000 year old. Bahrain has been influenced by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Arabs which could be the reason that Bahrain handicrafts have been influenced by a confluence of cultures.

Visit the Handicraft Centre at Al Jasra which will enable you to see the practice of local Bahrain handicrafts and traditional arts such as pottery, cloth and basket weaving. Take time off and visit the basket makers of Karbabad where you will see them weaving palm splits into baskets, dining mats, chicken coops, and date baskets.

Take a trip to Bani Jamra village and you will see weavers using threads which are woven into abbayas (cloaks) for women and sarongs for men. You will definitely watch with fascination the potters at work in the Pottery Workshop at Al A’Ali. You can see beautiful carpets and exquisite Persian rugs being woven at Adliya and Manama. Make time to visit the village of Bani Jamra and see weavers working on their manual looms.

The Craft Centre at Manama is run entirely by Bahraini women where they do some beautiful creations in iron, wood, and paper. The Heritage Village which is located outside the Bahrain National Museum holds a festival every year to encourage skilled crafts like pottery, textiles, and other handicrafts. The heritage village aims at supporting the artisans by giving them opportunities to display their products.