What to do in Manama - Latest News

Shakira is officially back in her FIFA World Cup era, and football fans already know what that means for summer playlists. The Colombian superstar just teased fans on Instagram with a brand-new anthem called Dai Dai. The track dropped on May 14 ahead of the tournament and features Nigerian singer Burna Boy. The catchy chant already feels impossible to get out of your head before the tournament even begins. For a lot of people, Shakira’s music and the World Cup practically go hand in hand at this point. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) became one of football’s most recognizable...

If you’ve ever wanted to be part of a worldwide running event, this is your chance. And no long-haul travel required. On May 23, 2026, thousands of runners across the globe will hit the streets at the same time in one of the biggest synchronized races in the world: One Run. This year, the scale is huge: 110+ cities already joined, 15 time zones, and 250,000+ participants expected. Whether you're running through streets in the GCC or along scenic routes in Asia, you can be part of a global movement happening in real time. The event brings together participants in...

Bahrain housing requests now take just one day thanks to a full digital upgrade by Bahrain’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. The allocation request service is now fully online, cutting out manual handling and delays. Here's how it works: after choosing a housing unit or plot, the system moves straight to issuing the electronic contract. No printed forms, no in-person submissions, and no manual approvals. The update also simplified the process: Required documents were cut by 50%, so applicants submit fewer forms and papers Approval steps were reduced by 25%, meaning fewer internal checks before completion Bahrain has recently...

You know how it usually goes: you open social media for a quick check, blink once, and suddenly it’s been 40 minutes. No memory of what you even watched. Just lost time. Now imagine a giant orange cat jumping in and shutting it all down. Meet Cat Gatekeeper, a browser extension that doesn’t ask politely. It blocks your screen the second you’ve scrolled long enough. Created by a Japanese developer, Cat Gatekeeper tracks how much time you spend on specific websites like social media. You decide the limit, and the extension does the rest. Once time is up, a massive...

Paying for apps usually comes down to two choices. Pay for a full year upfront and save, or pay monthly and spend more over time. Apple makes that choice easier with a new option that splits a yearly plan into monthly payments, with the same annual price. Annual subscriptions usually come with better pricing, but paying for a full year in one go isn’t always easy, especially for expensive apps. Monthly plans solve that problem, but they cost more. Here’s how the new option from Apple works: You sign up for a yearly subscription The total is divided into 12...

Looking for something to do this weekend (April 24-26)? Bahrain offers you plenty of active, creative, and high-energy plans from Friday to Sunday. Head out with friends, plan something with the kids, or just show up on your own and see where the day takes you. 1. Paint and Watch The Devil Wears Prada A casual Friday night with painting and a movie screening. Bring your friends, settle in, and paint while The Devil Wears Prada plays. Save the date: April 24 at 7 PM All details via @passionart.bh 2. Catch an Open Acoustic Music Night An acoustic Saturday night...

Tired of doing the same workout on your own? Try a community walk or run in Bahrain this week. Each group meets regularly and welcomes new faces, with no pressure on pace. Not A Cult Runs On April 24 (Friday), Not A Cult is hosting a 40-minute easy run starting from Juffair Square. Be there early, as it starts at 6 AM. RSVP is required to join. The group also meets every Friday for regular runs followed by a hangout. To join, sign up through their Strava club using the link in bio, then RSVP for each event.For all details...

If you use WhatsApp and want better visuals and a few extra features, you might get that soon. It looks like a premium version called WhatsApp Plus is now in testing. The feature has been spotted in the Android beta version of the app, where a limited number of users can already try it. Right now, it's only available to a small group of Android beta users. There’s no iOS version yet, and no confirmed date for a wider release. Here’s what’s currently included in this version: Premium stickers Custom themes Custom app icons More pinned chats Premium ringtones Extra...

There’s a new coffee spot to check out in Seef Boulevard, and it’s already pulling a crowd. Guji has soft-opened its latest branch, serving the same quality specialty coffee and fresh pastries. It’s perfect for a casual catch-up with friends or a grab-and-go. Once you’re in, even if you came for a quick takeaway, you might not want to leave. There’s a long wooden counter lined with delicious pastries and shelves displaying ceramics and coffee gear. The aroma of coffee hits you straight away, and the choice is genuinely wide. Alongside the classics, there are signature picks like Spanish latte,...

The Gulf keeps attracting companies and professionals building careers abroad. Strong salaries, global connections, and simple tax systems all play a role, and a new ranking now backs it up. According to William Russell, three Gulf countries rank in the top 10 of the Tax-Free Relocation Index in 2026. The ranking takes into account average net salaries, property purchase prices, rental costs for expats, utility bills, overall cost of living, and international travel access. Here are the rankings of GCC countries in the Tax-Free Relocation Index: Bahrain ranks 2nd, combining tax-free income with relatively lower living costs Qatar ranks 5th,...