Apart from the souq, the main shopping areas in the centre of Manama are around Al Khalifa Avenue and Bab al-Bahrain. Other good areas are Exhibition Avenue in Al-Hoora and the area around Osam bin Zaid Road in the Al-Adliya district.

Places in or near central Manama worth a visit for souvenir hunting and all types of shopping include the modern, glass-fronted Yateem Centre, the Batelco Commercial Centre with its tall, glass facade, the Al-Zainah Plaza on Tijjar Avenue, City Centre on Government Avenue, Al-Hadi Centre on Old Palace Road, the Capital Centre and Lulu Shopping Centre and Marina Mall near the Pearl Roundabout, and the Bahrain Commercial Complex (Sheraton Complex).

A little further out of town, but not far by taxi, is the big Seef Mall, opposite the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, where you will find Western names such as J.C. Penney, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and BHS.

Virtually next door is the Al A'Ali Shopping Complex with its big central dome, where you will find Jashanmal's, a store that offers the finest international beauty products within an atmosphere of stylish elegance. Be sure to also visit the beautifully designed 'souq' area of the mall.

On the other side of the highway is the Bahrain Mall, which in addition to offering further international name brand retail outlets is home to the massive Geant Superstore.

Opposite Al Ahli Stadium is the Al Jazira Centre which has high quality shops including Woolworths, Truworth, and the Al Jazira Supermarket. Also not all that far away are: Najeebi Centre in Saar, Al-Alawi Complex in Sitra and Riffa Mall in West Riffa, The Dana Mall Complex includes a superstore and mega cineplex.

24 Hour Chemists
Name & Address	Telephone
Jaffer Pharmacy: 19, Tarfah bin Al Abid Avenue, Manama 319.	17 291039
Nasser Pharmacy: 63-B, Qadisiya Avenue, Manama, 332.	17 740900
Al Attar Pharmacy: 226 Exhibition Avenue, Manama 321.	17 717231
Awal Pharmacy: 30 Shaikh Ali bin Kalifa Avenue, East Riffa 901.	17 772023
Hospital & Clinics
Ambulance Emergency	999
American Mission Hospital	17 253447
Saar Medical & Dental Clinic	17 790025
Awali Hospital	17 753333
Bahrain Specialist Hospital	17 812000
International Hospital	17 591666
Dr Tariq's Medical Centre	17 251717
Gulf Dental Hospital	17 741444
Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital	17 828282
Salmaniya Hospital	17 255555
Banks Commercial banks open from 7.30am to 12 noon Saturday to Wednesday and till 11am on Thursday, closing on Friday and in addition many open in the afternoon from Saturday to Wednesday. However most offshore and investment banks work from Sunday to Thursday.
Ahli United	17 224333
Arab Bank	17 229988
Bahrain Saudi Bank	17 211010
Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait	17 223388
Comercial Bank of Bahrain	17 220199
HSBC	17 224555
National Bank of Bahrain	17 228800
Shamil Bank of Bahrain	17 227040
Starndard Chartered	17 223636