It lies 4 km (2.5 mi) east of the capital, Manama, on Bahrain Island.

The island dominated the trade, fishing and especially pearls industries in Bahrain.

In the south of the island, at Hidd district, the new Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) of the free zone was built.

The island has the 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) Bahrain International Airport (IATA: BAH, ICAO: OBBI) that follows the long east–west axis.

The island has the 900 metres (3,000 ft) Muharraq Airfield (ICAO code:none) adjacent to Bahrain International Airport.