The worked facade
Pearl-merchant wealth in building form.
Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0
Siyadi House is part of a historic complex in Muharraq built by the pearl-merchant Siyadi family, alongside a majlis and a mosque. It is a stop on the Pearling Path, on the World Heritage List since 2012, and is known for its worked facade, which reflects the wealth of Bahrain's pearl trade before the oil age. The Siyadi family reached Bahrain in the early 19th century and settled in Muharraq near the rulers' houses, growing rich on pearls. The oldest part of the complex is the Siyadi Mosque, given to the Muharraq community in 1865, with the preserved structure dating to about 1910. The majlis went up in two phases, in 1850 and 1921. From outside, your eye goes to the square block with its windows and wooden screens and the round minaret of the mosque beside it, among the oldest preserved mosques in Muharraq and still used for daily prayer. The house itself is reported to remain a private home of the builder's descendants, so entry may be limited to the majlis or not possible at all. At the mosque, keep shoulders and knees covered, women cover their hair, remove your shoes, and avoid prayer times and Friday midday. The house lies on the Pearling Path in Muharraq and 1.5 km from Arad Fort in a straight line, so it fits a walk through the old town. Mornings or late afternoons in the cooler months are best.
Pearl-merchant wealth in building form.
A round minaret, still in daily use.
Built in two phases, 1850 and 1921.
Sheikh Abdullah quarter, Muharraq
It isn't guaranteed. It is reported to be a private home and entry may be limited to the majlis, so ask first; the outside view is still worthwhile.
It is one of the path's buildings in Muharraq, telling with other houses the story of the pearling economy that UNESCO placed on its World Heritage List.
