Bahrain

It was in the Kingdom of Bahrain, over a century ago in the 1880s, that members of the community first anchored in the Middle East. Drawn by the promise of maritime commerce and regional trade, Dawoodi Bohras — many of them merchants from Gujarat, India — settled in Bahrain at a time when the Gulf was opening its ports to new connections, enterprise, and exchange.

A treasured moment in the community’s history occurred in 1914, when His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, then ruler of Bahrain, gifted a parcel of land to the Dawoodi Bohras for the construction of a masjid. This act of generosity and foresight stands as a powerful example of Bahrain’s long-standing ethos of religious tolerance and cultural openness. As well as being the first Bohra masjid in the Middle East, it went on to become an important spiritual and culture centre for the community.

From the time they settled, community  members have integrated into the Bahraini society and contributed to Bahrain's commercial, civic, and cultural life, with many honoured with Bahraini citizenship — an expression of the trust and goodwill extended by the Kingdom’s leadership.

From the time they settled, community  members have integrated into the Bahraini society and contributed to Bahrain's commercial, civic, and cultural life, with many honoured with Bahraini citizenship — an expression of the trust and goodwill extended by the Kingdom’s leadership.