Ajam of Bahrain

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The Ajam of Bahrain are Bahrainis who come from Iranian families. They are mostly Shia Muslims, with some Sunni families among Achomi and Baluchi groups. Many Ajam are bilingual, speaking Bahraini Persian and Bahraini Arabic.

They live mainly in Manama and Muharraq, and their numbers form a significant part of Bahrain’s population. In the past, estimates often pointed to around tens of thousands of people; by 2009, Iranians in Bahrain were counted as about 20% of the population.

Origins and history
The Ajams are descendants of Iranians who moved to Bahrain over many centuries, especially from southern Iran (including Bushehr, Hormozgan, and Fars) and other parts of the country. Large waves came in the 19th and 20th centuries, driven by trade, politics, and economic opportunity. Over time, the community brought together a mix of backgrounds, including Baluchi and Achomi people, which contributed to a diverse Ajam group.

Education, language, and identity
In Bahrain’s early modern period, Persian-language schools were established by Ajam families. The Al-Ittihad school opened in 1910 and helped teach Persian and other subjects, promoting a sense of Iranian identity. by the 1930s these schools merged and continued as Iranian-focused institutions. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the curriculum shifted, and the school was renamed Islamic Republic School. The school operated until the mid-1990s. In 2002, many Ajams were granted Bahraini citizenship, reinforcing their status as full members of Bahraini society.

Culture and daily life
The Ajam have contributed to Bahrain’s culture in various ways. They have helped shape music, cuisine, and religious life. The band Sultaneez, based in Bahrain, performed in Bastaki dialect and influenced Bandari-style music. Persian-influenced dishes and Persian-language cultural elements remain part of the broader Bahraini cultural landscape. A well-known example is Matam al-Ajam al-Kabeer, a large Shia gathering in Fareej el-Makharqa for commemoration rituals. Place names across Bahrain, such as Manama and many coastal towns, reflect Persian influence from ancient and more recent history.

Today and identity
Today’s Ajam in Bahrain are largely integrated and secular-minded, though tensions and discrimination against Shia Muslims and people of Iranian origin have occurred at times. After periods of strained relations between Bahrain and Iran, diplomatic ties were restored in 2024. Many Ajams identify first as Bahraini, while others maintain strong ties to their Persian heritage. Some families use Arabic versions of their surnames to avoid discrimination, while others proudly preserve Persian names and language at home. The Ajam language landscape includes Southern Iranian languages and Farsi dialects, with many family members also speaking Arabic in daily life.

Overall, the Ajam of Bahrain are a long-established, diverse community whose presence has helped shape Bahrain’s religious, cultural, and linguistic landscape while navigating questions of identity and belonging in the Gulf.