Government and public affairs occupiers in Manama typically cluster in Seef, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($155–220/sqft), and pay around 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on Class A.

  • Preferred submarket: Seef.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($155–220/sqft).
  • Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD).
  • Typical lease: 5 years with 6 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in Manama: 76/100.

Government and public affairs office space in Manama

Government and public affairs occupiers in Manama typically cluster in Seef, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($155–220/sqft), and pay around 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

  • Preferred submarket: Seef.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($155–220/sqft).
  • Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD).
  • Typical lease: 5 years with 6 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in Manama: 76/100.

Where they cluster

Government and public affairs occupiers in Manama typically anchor in Seef. Banking branches, retail HQs, professional services, hospitality.

What they pay

Class A rent in Manama runs 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on a 5-year lease with 6 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical government and public affairs fit-out targets high-end specification at $155–220/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 240 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount public office in Manama typically targets 24,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Lobbying and public-affairs teams cluster near legislative anchors; long-duration leases and conservative concession packages are normal. Strong Islamic banking, fintech, asset management, and reinsurance talent. University of Bahrain, Royal University for Women, and BIBF (Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance) anchor the regional pipeline. Multilingual (Arabic, English) talent supports international tenancy.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 0%. Bahraini gross structure (rent inclusive of utilities and basic services). 3-5 year terms standard. Rent-free of 4-8 months on 5-year terms plus BHD 30-60/sqm TI typical.

Key facts

cityManama
industryGovernment and public affairs
naics813, 541820
preferredSubmarketSeef
preferredFitoutSpecHigh-end
fitoutBand$155–220/sqft
sqftPerSeat240
classARentLocal100 BHD/sqft/yr
classARentUsd$25/sqft/yr
vacancyPct17.4%
typicalLeaseYears5
typicalRentFreeMonths6
talentIndex76
corporateTaxPct0%

Frequently asked questions

Where do government and public affairs occupiers lease office space in Manama?
Most cluster in Seef. Rent runs ~100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do government and public affairs occupiers run in Manama?
Typically high-end at $155–220/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a government and public affairs occupier plan in Manama?
Plan ~240 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 24,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the government and public affairs vertical?
Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 813, 541820.
What is the talent index in Manama?
76/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

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Reviewed by Class A Atlas Editorial Desk — House byline · global editorial team. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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