Bahrain
Manama
UMR Index Rank
#67
(+1)
Score: 27%
Sustainable Mobility
#68
(+1)
Score: 26.5%
Public Transit
#70
(=)
Score: 16.2%
Technology Adoption
#60
Score: 16.7%
| Population | 0.73 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 388 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 1,873 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 29,327 |
UMR Index Rank
#67
(+1)
Score: 27%
Sustainable Mobility
#68
(+1)
Score: 26.5%
Public Transit
#70
(=)
Score: 16.2%
Technology Adoption
#60
Score: 16.7%
What Manama Does Well In Urban Mobility
The Bahraini capital boasts a strong network of safe and well-maintained roadways with relatively few traffic fatalities. Efforts to develop and upgrade 146 kilometers (91 miles) of roads in the last few years demonstrate Manama’s commitment to improving road connectivity. Bahrain also is running a variety of road safety campaigns targeting students.
In 2023 the government began construction on an automated four-line metro system to provide residents with more sustainable travel options. The first 29 kilometers (18 miles) of the planned 109-kilometer (68-mile) system are expected to open in 2025, with the remainder due to be completed by mid-2027. The country is using a private-public partnership model to execute the first phase of construction. Public transit fares are relatively affordable in relation to average incomes. The city’s inhabitants largely perceive public transit as safe, a contrast with many of the city’s index peers.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Manama's Transportation System
Despite safe and affordable public transportation, Manama’s public transit offering is underutilized and not very diverse. As of 2024, the city had only a bus network in operation, which will change when the metro opens. The city also lags behind in multimodal offerings. Bicycles are not permitted on buses unless they are folded. Reports suggest that park-and-ride facilities will be integrated with the metro, enabling suburban commuters to drive to stations, park their cars, and then take the metro downtown.
Similar to other cities in the region, the hot climate in combination with a lack of dedicated walking and cycling infrastructure impedes active mobility. Bahrain plans to develop bike and e-bike lanes throughout the country. Manama also has been trying to improve pedestrian infrastructure, but projects like a pedestrian bridge to connect the Khalifa Al Kabeer walkway to the Arad Fort walkway have been delayed. The bridge would better connect the Muharraq neighborhood with the historical part of the city, both located in Manama’s northeast.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Manama Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Despite efforts to reduce carbon emissions, Manama’s electric vehicle (EV) market share in sales and the associated charging infrastructure is subpar. Manama’s charging density is among the lowest of its regional peers. To improve, Manama can invest more in installing chargers and can use existing public-private partnerships to accelerate installation. In 2024 the city launched a project to determine its EV strategy. The city can consider both monetary and non-monetary incentives to encourage EV adoption, including tax rebates, subsidies, or special access lanes for EVs.
To improve its public transit offering, Manama’s investment in its metro is a first step. Additionally, the city can increase operating hours of public transit to encourage ridership. It can invest in more buses and bus routes, which is a relatively quick and cost-effective way of improving service. The city can implement a bus rapid transit system and explore the use of ferries to further improve the diversity of its offering. To strengthen multimodality, the city can invest in buses that have bike racks, giving commuters a more integrated multimodal offering to complete their journey.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
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