A family business that has stood at the heart of Manama Suq for more than nine decades is being immortalised through a vibrant artwork that also captures a bygone era of Bahrain’s most famous marketplace.
The painting, commissioned by Nabeel Ajoor and created by artist Latifa Al Shaikh, depicts Ali Mohammed Ajoor and Bros, Bahrain – the Ajoor family’s textile trading company founded in 1932.
Inspired by a treasured family photograph, the artwork brings to life the bustling atmosphere, traditional architecture and enduring spirit of the suq during an era when it was a magnet for merchants from across the Gulf.
“I wanted to commission this piece to preserve a very special part of my family’s story,” Mr Ajoor, who was born in Manama in 1961, told the GDN.
“As the suq modernises, it is becoming less common to see the traditional architecture and atmosphere that once defined the era. I believe it is important to remember our culture and heritage and the many years of history our store has witnessed.”
Mr Ajoor said he still keeps the original photograph of the shop in his family majlis and wanted to recreate the spirit of a marketplace that was once renowned throughout the Gulf.
“The Manama Suq was famous not only in Bahrain but across the GCC as a destination where people could find almost anything. I wanted to bring that feeling back to life, and I knew Latifa was the right person for the job.”
For Ms Al Shaikh, a full-time artist from Muharraq and former banking professional, the project provided an opportunity to transform a treasured family memory into a lasting visual record.
“What fascinated me most was the atmosphere of the old marketplace – the traditional architecture, the movement of people, the shopfronts and the strong sense of community within those narrow streets,” she said. “I wanted to capture not just what the place looked like, but what it felt like to be there.”
To ensure authenticity, Ms Al Shaikh worked extensively from historical photographs and archival material provided by the Ajoor family, while also drawing on her own familiarity with old Manama and Bahrain’s traditional architecture.
Created using acrylic on canvas, the painting features layered brushwork and warm earthy tones inspired by traditional Bahraini buildings.
“Particular attention was given to light, texture and human activity to recreate the feeling of a bustling marketplace rather than simply documenting a location,” she added.
As a Bahraini artist, Ms Al Shaikh said she feels a responsibility to celebrate and preserve the kingdom’s heritage through her work.
“Through this painting, I wanted to honour the generations who contributed to Bahrain’s growth and preserve a visual reminder of the Bahrain many of us know through family stories and old photographs,” she said.
“Places such as the Manama Suq are more than buildings and streets. They are spaces where businesses flourished, friendships were formed and communities were built. Every landmark carries countless personal stories worth preserving.”
For generations, the Manama Suq served as the economic and cultural heartbeat of Bahrain. Its strategic location connected local merchants, pearl traders and dhow builders to regional and international markets, bringing goods from India, Persia and beyond.
Before the discovery of oil, the bustling marketplace was the kingdom’s principal commercial centre, supplying everything from textiles and spices to rice and household goods.
Today, while it remains a destination for traditional products, gold and spices, the suq also stands as one of Bahrain’s most important historical districts ... a living reminder of the kingdom’s rich trading heritage.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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