In Bahrain, as in other Gulf states, the retail centres are a tourist attraction in their own right, and a place to socialise, a refuge from the heat. So if you want to rub shoulders with the local people, the best plan is to spend an afternoon in the best shopping malls and enjoy their design, architecture and opulence.
The Avenues
This enormous retail centre located on the sea front is one of the most popular in Bahrain. It is on the famous King Faisal Road in the heart of the capital Manama, and was inspired by another shopping mall with the same name in Kuwait. A unique feature of this complex is that it gives you the impression of being outdoors, as a huge transparent ceiling allows the sunlight in.
Its 40,000-m2 area contains over 130 shops and tens of restaurants representing all kinds of gastronomy. In addition, The Avenue has a games area, around ten cinemas and a public park.
Such is the success of this shopping centre with both visitors and locals that it is being extended to cover a further 30,000 m2, and to become a major attraction for shopping tourism.
Seef Mall
This complex, located in the Seef district, in Manama, is characterised by open and well-lit spaces so that visitors can walk around as if they were outside.
Moreover, its 55 restaurants attract all kinds of visitors who come here to relax and socialise. But above all else, it is the perfect place to go shopping because it has shops selling all sorts of brands, including some of the best-known international brands such as M&S, BHS, H&M, Mango, Zara, Sun&Sand Sport, and many others.
Seef Mall also specialises in providing fun for young children, as it has a well-equipped children’s play area and even an indoor theme park, Magic Island, which is adored by its youngest visitors. Adults can enjoy the six-screen Seef Cineplex or the ten-screen Seef Megaplex.
Gold City Mall
This is one of Manama’s most special retail centres, as it transports visitors to a gold souk, albeit one with a modern design and architecture.
There are a multitude of shops specialising in precious metals and gems, with very exclusive designs and attentive service by the staff.
Security in this retail centre is very rigorous, as it is the entry point for new jewellery companies seeking to establish themselves in Bahrain via the Golden City Mall.
Moda Mall
Moda Mall is not a retail centre as we understand it in Europe. This complex lies within one of the Gulf’s most exclusive shopping centres, Bahrain World, that has its origins in the former Sheraton.
To step into Moda Mall is to open a door to fabulous designer restaurants or boutiques belonging to the world’s most prestigious brands, selling clothing that cannot be found elsewhere in the kingdom.
Most of the shops sell goods by international designers such as Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Dior, Fendi, Versace, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hermes, Kenzo Women, Burberry and Al Othman, and their shop windows are full of haute couture items for any exclusive event.
One of the most dazzling features of this shopping centre are the glass domes that show the marble of the interior to its best advantage, and mark out the keys areas: the Fashion Patio and the Jewellery Patio.
In the jewellery area, you can find shops belonging to the world’s finest jewellers such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Chopard and De Beers, all offering unique designs.
But your walk through Moda Mall should not be confined to the shop fronts: the restaurants and cafés attract lots of tourists and locals who like to relax whilst enjoying stylish dishes, or simply a coffee and a roll.
Other places to go shopping
In addition to the retail centres scattered around the country’s major cities, we must not forget the souks or traditional markets as very interesting places to go shopping.
Bahrain’s most important market is in the capital, Manama.
