Media and entertainment occupiers in Manama typically cluster in Seef, plan ~165 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 ~165 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: Seef.
• Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($155–220/sqft).
• Plan ~165 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

Media and entertainment 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 media and entertainment 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 165 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount media office in Manama typically targets 16,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Creative-class talent prefers loft-style, photogenic submarkets with adjacent agency and post-production ecosystems. 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 media and entertainment 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 media and entertainment occupiers run in Manama?

Typically high-end at $155–220/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a media and entertainment occupier plan in Manama?

Plan ~165 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 16,500 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the media and entertainment vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 512, 515, 519130.

What is the talent index in Manama?

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

Related

• Media and entertainment — global overview
• Manama — full city profile
• Financial services in Manama
• Asset management in Manama
• Investment banking in Manama
• Legal services 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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