Bahrain Authority
for Culture and Antiquities

Bu Maher Fort is located in the south of the city of Muharraq, and was first built during the Portuguese occupation of Bahrain. Renovation works on the fort commenced in the 1970’s, during which only some of it was rebuilt. In 2010, excavation works carried work at the site uncovered its original foundations and dimensions.

The fort represents the first step on Pearling Trail, which the Ministry of Culture back then, succeeded in inscribing as a World Heritage Site in 2012. A dedicated visitor center was established next to the fort which houses an illustrated map of the Pearling Trail and models of the sites that can be found along the way.

The Bu Maher Fort visitor center aims to introduce the public to the architectural character that went hand in hand with the traditional pearling trade, as well as highlighting its surrounding environment both within Bahrain and beyond, and building an understanding of the social components of that era.

Moreover, the authority offers daily trips by sea from the Bahrain National Museum to the Bu Maher Fort shore between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm.

These trips help shed light on part of the story of Bahrain’s traditional pearl divers and sailors, and enable people to re-live some of their experiences and sea expeditions, especially as the Bu Maher Fort and its coastline was the spot from which pearling dhows departed and returned many months later.