Investment banking occupiers in Manama typically cluster in Bahrain Financial Harbour, plan ~215 sqft per seat at trophy fit-out ($220–310/sqft), and pay around 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on Class A.

• Preferred submarket: Bahrain Financial Harbour.
• Typical fit-out spec: Trophy ($220–310/sqft).
• Plan ~215 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.

TL;DR

• Preferred submarket: Bahrain Financial Harbour.
• Typical fit-out spec: Trophy ($220–310/sqft).
• Plan ~215 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

Investment banking occupiers in Manama typically anchor in Bahrain Financial Harbour. Banking, Islamic banking, asset management, fintech.

What they pay

Class A rent in Manama runs 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on a 5-year lease with 6 months free. Trophy submarkets command a 20–40% premium above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical investment banking fit-out targets trophy specification at $220–310/sqft. Bespoke design, signature feature, top-tier MEP and acoustic packages are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 215 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount banking office in Manama typically targets 21,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Bulge-bracket teams favor signature trophy assets with full client-facing programming and large floor plates. 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

Frequently asked questions

Where do investment banking occupiers lease office space in Manama?

Most cluster in Bahrain Financial Harbour. Rent runs ~100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do investment banking occupiers run in Manama?

Typically trophy at $220–310/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a investment banking occupier plan in Manama?

Plan ~215 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,500 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the investment banking vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 523150, 522110.

What is the talent index in Manama?

76/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Related

• Investment banking — global overview
• Manama — full city profile
• Financial services in Manama
• Asset management in Manama
• Legal services in Manama
• Big tech in Manama

Editorial provenance

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

Primary sources for this page

• CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
• JLL Office Insight — JLL
• Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
• Savills World Research — Savills
• Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction

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