The area was occupied by Ottoman forces in the middle of the 16th century, and it would be administered by them, with varying degrees of effectiveness, for the next 130 years.

[2] The beglerbegilik of Al-Hasa was established in 1552, primarily to protect Basra's trade with India, since the Portuguese were making raids on the coasts and shipping in the Persian Gulf.

[2] It ended with disastrous results: the surrender of the Ottoman forces, and their withdrawal after the payment of a ransom of 1 million akçe.

[2] With the withdrawal of most of the garrison, the Bani Khalid Emirate leaders, the erstwhile rulers of the area, used the opportunity to rebel against the Ottomans, occupying Lahsa and establishing Mubarraz as headquarters.

[2] In 1568 the Ottomans made further naval preparations to capture Bahrain, but the rebellion in Yemen in the same year curbed all such plans.