Country Bahrain Settled 18th century Local time Thursday 9:41 AM Clubs and Teams Riffa SC, East Riffa Club | Governorate Southern Governorate Time zone UTC + 3 Population 121,566 (2010) | |
Weather 26°C, Wind NW at 11 km/h, 49% Humidity Colleges and Universities Kingdom University, Royal University for Women Points of interest Riffa Fort, Shaikh Isa Palace, Al Rawda Palace, Riffa Military Museum, Riffa Clock Tower | ||
Riffa (Arabic: الرفاع, Ar-Rifāʿ), formerly known in English as Ruffin, is the second largest city in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Riffa is divided into two parts: East Riffa and West Riffa. The city is mainly located in the Central Governorate, while smaller parts are in the Southern Governorate.
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Map of Riffa, Bahrain
The city is growing fast: during the 2001 census, the population was recorded as 79,550 but by 2008 it was estimated as 111,000.
History
Ruffin was formerly the principal settlement on Bahrain Island, before being supplanted by the port of Manama over the course of the 19th century.
East Riffa
East Riffa has many attractions, one such attraction is Riffa Fort, which is also known as Sheikh Salman Bin Ahmad Al Fateh Fort. The city has several shopping malls and two main shopping streets; Riffa Bazaar (سوق الرفاع, Souk ar-Rifa) and Bukuwara Street Market. The former is larger, while the latter is more organised and modernised. Playing golf in the Royal Golf Club is considered as one of the top activities to do in the area. A new development, created by Arcapita, called Riffa Views, is a large residential and commercial center. The project includes artificial lakes, an international school, commercial districts, supermarkets, and will have access to the recently opened Royal Women's University. Enma Mall and Lulu Hypermarket Mall are new additions to the rapidly increasing commercial centers in East Riffa.
West Riffa
West Riffa is predominately a residential area. Most of the ruling family, ministers and business investors live in West Riffa. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain lives there, as well as the Prime Minister, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa. Riffa’s famous clock tower is located in the centre of West Riffa.
East Riffa is home to Bahrain National Stadium, where most football matches and important sports events in Bahrain take place. West Riffa and East Riffa, each has its own football club and stadium.
Obstructions
Shia Muslims as well as Iranian Sunnis, are barred from living within the city limits. Riffa is designed to be exclusively Sunni Arab city, and a refugee point for the ruling Sunni regime.