City Centre Bahrain

City Centre Bahrain is a large integrated shopping and entertainment complex in the Seef District of Manama, Bahrain. Owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim Properties, it was developed as a destination-oriented mall serving Bahrain residents as well as visitors from neighboring Saudi Arabia who cross the King Fahd Causeway. The center opened in September 2008 and was presented as the largest shopping mall in Bahrain at the time. The mall combines broad retail coverage with food, family entertainment, cinema and leisure facilities. Its tenant mix includes approximately 340 retail outlets, with Carrefour and Saks Fifth Avenue among the most notable anchors. Carrefour's presence represented the hypermarket's first operation in Bahrain, while Saks Fifth Avenue's opening gave the country a new luxury department-store format. The center also includes more than 60 dining options, ranging from full-service restaurants to quick-service and snack concepts, and has hosted more than 40 exclusive or otherwise distinctive international and regional brands. City Centre Bahrain's offer extends beyond conventional shopping. Magic Planet provides family-oriented entertainment, while Cineco operates a 20-screen cinema complex. The development was also designed around major leisure attractions, including Wahooo! Waterpark, described as a 15,000-square-metre climate-controlled indoor and outdoor water park. The wider destination concept incorporated two Kempinski hotels, supporting the mall's role as part of a hospitality and tourism cluster rather than solely a retail property. The center's location and programming reflect a deliberate strategy to attract weekend visitors from Saudi Arabia, particularly travelers arriving through the King Fahd Causeway. This cross-border catchment has helped position City Centre Bahrain as a regional destination within the Gulf retail market. Its combination of international anchors, entertainment, hospitality and dining gives it a broader proposition than a standard neighborhood shopping center. Later additions and facilities have continued to expand the entertainment and lifestyle proposition. Reference material describes the installation of an artificial volcano in 2025, with a stated flow rate of 250,000 litres, and the presence of Train Strength & Fitness, a large fitness facility featuring amenities such as a basketball court, swimming pool and padel court. The complex has also experienced isolated operational incidents, including a restaurant-chimney fire in January 2020 that prompted a precautionary evacuation but caused no reported casualties. The mall remains an active commercial and leisure destination in Bahrain.

City Centre Bahrain was developed by Majid Al Futtaim Properties as a major retail and leisure project in Bahrain's Seef District. The development opened in September 2008 and became one of the country's largest shopping destinations. Its scale and format reflected the growth of destination malls in the Gulf, where retail properties increasingly combine shopping with restaurants, cinemas, family entertainment, hotels and other visitor attractions. From its opening, the center was structured around a broad tenant mix rather than a single retail category. It introduced Carrefour as a major hypermarket anchor and Saks Fifth Avenue as a luxury department-store anchor, both described in reference material as firsts for Bahrain. The center also offered hundreds of additional retail outlets and a substantial dining program. This combination allowed the mall to serve routine shopping needs while also attracting customers seeking fashion, luxury, dining and leisure experiences. The development was planned with a regional catchment in mind. Its location in Manama and its proximity to the route connecting Bahrain with Saudi Arabia made it particularly suitable for attracting weekend visitors traveling across the King Fahd Causeway. The inclusion of two Kempinski hotels reinforced the destination model by linking the shopping center with hospitality and short-stay travel. Entertainment became a central part of the complex's identity. Magic Planet provided indoor family entertainment, while Cineco established a 20-screen cinema operation within an approximately 8,000-square-metre footprint. Wahooo! Waterpark added a large climate-controlled indoor and outdoor aquatic attraction covering approximately 15,000 square metres. These facilities helped differentiate City Centre Bahrain from conventional retail centers and supported longer visitor dwell times. The mall's offer has continued to include new leisure and lifestyle elements. Reference material identifies an artificial volcano added in 2025 and Train Strength & Fitness as a substantial fitness venue with facilities including a basketball court, pool and padel court. These additions are consistent with the center's broader positioning as a mixed shopping, entertainment and lifestyle destination. City Centre Bahrain has also faced routine operational and safety events. On 8 January 2020, a fire in a restaurant chimney led to a precautionary evacuation. The fire was extinguished within approximately 55 minutes and no casualties were reported. Reference material further describes a January 2026 incident involving a bystander who fell into the artificial volcano and sustained severe burns; railings were reportedly added afterward. No broader corporate scandal or legal controversy is identified in the supplied material. The mall continues to operate under Majid Al Futtaim Properties.

• 2026

  Safety modifications reported at artificial volcano

  [1]City Centre Bahrainen.wikipedia.org

  Following a reported severe-burn injury involving a bystander, railings were reportedly installed around the artificial volcano.

• 2025

  Artificial volcano installation

  [1]City Centre Bahrainen.wikipedia.org

  An artificial volcano was added as a leisure attraction, with reference material stating a flow rate of 250,000 litres.

• 2020

  Restaurant chimney fire

  [1]City Centre Bahrainen.wikipedia.org

  A restaurant chimney fire was extinguished after approximately 55 minutes. The mall was evacuated as a precaution, with no reported casualties.

• 2008

  City Centre Bahrain opens

  [1]City Centre Bahrainen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened in September 2008 in Manama's Seef District and was presented as Bahrain's largest shopping center.

• 2008

  Carrefour and Saks Fifth Avenue become anchor tenants

  [1]City Centre Bahrainen.wikipedia.org

  The opening introduced Carrefour and Saks Fifth Avenue as major anchors, with both described in reference material as first-time entries into Bahrain.

A large regional shopping and entertainment destination combining international retail anchors, luxury shopping, dining, cinema, family attractions, hospitality and fitness, with particular appeal to Bahrain residents and weekend visitors from Saudi Arabia.

• Shopping · 2008

  Retail tenant mix

  The mall contains approximately 340 retail outlets spanning fashion, department-store merchandise, luxury goods, beauty, consumer products and everyday shopping. Its tenant strategy combines international and regional brands with major destination anchors, allowing the property to serve both routine local shopping and cross-border visitors.

• Hypermarket · 2008

  Carrefour

  Carrefour operates as a principal hypermarket anchor at City Centre Bahrain. Its presence broadens the center beyond discretionary retail by providing groceries, household products and general consumer merchandise. Reference material identifies the location as Carrefour's first operation in Bahrain.

• Luxury department store · 2008

  Saks Fifth Avenue

  Saks Fifth Avenue serves as a luxury department-store anchor, adding premium fashion, accessories, beauty and related categories to the mall's offer. Its opening was described as the brand's first entry into Bahrain and helped establish City Centre Bahrain's upscale positioning.

• Family entertainment · 2008

  Magic Planet

  Magic Planet is a family entertainment center designed for children and families. It contributes to the mall's destination proposition by providing an activity-based attraction alongside retail and dining, encouraging longer visits and repeat family traffic.

• Cinema · 2008

  Cineco Cinema

  Cineco operates a 20-screen cinema complex within the mall. The cinema occupies approximately 8,000 square metres according to the reference material and functions as one of the center's principal evening and leisure attractions.

• Waterpark · 2008

  Wahooo! Waterpark

  Wahooo! Waterpark was a climate-controlled indoor and outdoor waterpark covering approximately 15,000 square metres. It formed part of the mall's original leisure strategy and was intended to complement the retail, dining and hospitality components of the destination.

• Food and beverage · 2008

  Dining collection

  City Centre Bahrain provides more than 60 dining outlets, including restaurants, cafés, quick-service venues and snack options. The breadth of the dining program supports both everyday visits and the mall's role as a leisure destination for local and cross-border guests.

• Fitness and sports

  Train Strength & Fitness

  Train Strength & Fitness is described as a large fitness facility at the mall. Its listed amenities include a basketball court, swimming pool and padel court, giving the center an additional lifestyle and sports component beyond conventional retail and entertainment.

• 2026

  Safety modification following reported volcano incidentOther

  Background

  Reference material reports that a bystander fell into the artificial volcano and suffered severe burns.

  Action taken

  Railings were reportedly installed around the perimeter of the artificial volcano.

  Aftermath

  The reported modification was intended to restrict access to the attraction's perimeter. Further operational or regulatory details are not identified in the supplied material.

  Source

• 2025

  Addition of an artificial volcano attractionProduct launch

  Background

  The mall has positioned itself as a combined retail, entertainment and leisure destination rather than only a shopping center.

  Action taken

  An artificial volcano was added to the complex, with reference material stating a flow rate of 250,000 litres.

  Aftermath

  The attraction became part of the mall's leisure offering. A later reported injury led to the reported addition of perimeter railings.

  Source

1. 1City Centre Bahrainen.wikipedia.org
2. 2City Centre Bahrain official websitebahraincitycentre.com