1st Muharraq
In 2018, MP Ali Bufarsan suffered a massive first-round defeat; with young candidate Hamad al-Kooheji winning 3104 votes, and cleric Mohammed al-Hussaini lagging behind with 2001 votes. Kooheji went on to win the parliamentary seat in round two.
Areas covered: Busaiteen
Number of candidates: 12
Voter demographic
Busaiteen is a proud and traditional Sunni locality on the northwest coast of Muharraq. Islamist parties have traditionally done well in this constituency. Voters will be looking for candidates who can vocally advocate their interests at a national level and support livelihoods, like the fishing industry.
This is invariably a strongly competitive constituency, often with a substantial number of high-calibre candidates; often a mixture of popular Islamist figures, local luminaries and younger activists.
Pundits have noted the decline in support of Bahraini voters for established political groupings. In the past this constituency has been a fierce battleground for leading Sunni societies like al-Minbar and al-Asalah, although candidates in 2018 are formally standing as independents. One 2014 newspaper survey of local constituents discovered considerable frustration with the perceived performance of previous MPs, saying that there was a desire for candidates who could demonstrate that they sought “the public interest, not personal interests”.
2022 candidates
Osama al-Sayed Ismael Mahmoud al-Alawi
Khaled Yousef Ali Sulaibeekh
Mohammed Rafiq Qari Mohammed Saeed al-Husseini
Mohammed Abdullah Ibrahim Jassim al-Mutawa
Hamad Ahmed Mohammed Saleh al-Kooheji
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Salim Ahmed al-Tamimi
Sabah Khamis Rashid al-Dhawadi
Ghazi Abdulaziz Yousef Jaafar al-Murbati
Khawla Mohammed ali Abdullah Hussein al-Busmait
Abdulaziz Isa Abdullah al-Mannai
Jassim Mohammed Hassan al-Hammadi
Jamal Hassan Rashid Hassan al-Jowder
Other information
Housing blocks: 225, 226, 228, 229
2014 registered voters: 8,071 (2014); 2014 percentage 1st round voter turnout: 85.4%
2018 second round results: Hamad al-Kooheji (4171) vs. Mohammed al-Hussaini (cleric – 3573).
2018 first round result: Hamad al-Kooheji (3104) vs. Mohammed al-Hussaini (2001). Vote tally for other candidates: Mohmmed al-Mutawa – 1297; Ali Bufarsan 261; Isa al-Hassan – 128
1st Muharraq 2014 first round votes: Saadi Mohammed (Minbar) – 1986 (29.8%); Ali Bufursan – 1567 (23.6%); Mohammed al-Hussaini – 1451 (21.8%); Ahmed al-Obaidli – 416 (6.3%); Ahmed Ashir – 397; Yahya al-Majdami – 345; Mohammed al-Qalalif – 226; Ahmed Aqqab – 153; Thani Rashidan – 115. 2014 second round vote: Ali Bufarsan – 3182 (54.2%); Saadi Mohammed (Minbar) – 2691 (45.8%)
2nd Muharraq
In 2018, Ibrahim al-Hammadi lost further ground to new candidate Ibrahim al-Nafeei in round two.
Areas covered: Muharraq central
Number of candidates: 5
Voter demographic
This constituency lies in the densely-populated central town of Muharraq and in geographical size is one of the smallest constituencies in Bahrain. This area has tended to favour Sunni Islamist candidates. Media surveys of voters have found voter priorities in this constituency to include housing, living standards, education and improving public infrastructure.
2022 candidates
Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim Busandal
Hamad Farouq Hassan Ahmed al-Doy
Mohammed Ahmed Yousef Ahmed Jassim al-Jowder
Ibrahim Khaled Ibrahim al-Nafeei
Mohammed al-Sheikh Omar Abdulwahab Abdulrahim al-Qadhi
Other information
Housing blocks: 203, 205, 206, 209, 221, 222
2014 registered voters: 7,563 2014 percentage 1st round voter turnout: 79.5%
2018 second round results: Ibrahim al-Nafeei (2932) vs. Ibrahim al-Hammadi (incumbent MP – 2571)
2018 first round result: Ibrahim al-Nafeei (1138) vs. Ibrahim al-Hammadi (1043). Vote tally for other candidates: Mohammed Naji – 821; Mohammed Al Sinan – 465; Huda al-Mahmoud – 280; Bashar Jassim Fakhro – 241; Laila al-Mahmeed – 147; Abdulrahman al-Ziman, Saleh al-Naimi
2nd Muharraq 2014 second round vote: Ibrahim al-Hammadi – 2761 (51.4%); Abdulmunim al-Eid – 2610 (48.6%). 2014 first round votes: Ibrahim al-Hammadi – 1761 (30.3%); Abdulmunim al-Eid – 1550 (26.6%); Wahid al-Dossary – 1251 (21.5%); Salim Rajab (NUG) – 524 (9.0%); Mohammed al-Buainain – 357; Abdulrahman Bin-Zaiman – 195; Ahmed al-Jowder – 127; Khalid Bu-Jiri – 54
3rd Muharraq
After a 2018 first-round contest of relatively untested faces, Mohammed al-Abbasi defeated Mohammed al-Olaiwi in round two. MP Mohammed al-Abassi is not running for the 2022 elections.
Areas covered: Muharraq central, Qalali
Number of candidates: 6
Voter demographic
This is a staunchly loyalist area sprawling across the heart of Muharraq island. The district expanded as part of the 2014 boundary changes to take in two blocs from the 1st Muharraq constituency and parts of Qalali.
2022 candidates
Ishaq Mohammed Ahmed al-Kooheji
Ahmed Khalil Ibrahim Isa Ali Buhiji
Mohammed Jassim Rashid al-Alawi
Abdulkarim Ibrahim Abdulkarim Mohammed al-Ammadi
Nawaf Isa Ibrahim Yaqoub al-Mahmeed
Lubna Mohammed Hassan al-Hassan
Other information
Housing blocks: 202, 204, 208, 210, 223, 224, 227
2014 registered voters: 7,563 2014 percentage 1st round voter turnout: 77.6%
2018 second round results: Mohammed al-Abbasi (3096) vs. Mohammed Jassim al-Olaiwi (2184)
2018 first round result: Mohammed al-Abbasi (1686) vs. Mohammed Jassim al-Olaiwi (1240). Vote tally for other candidates: Najm Al Sinan – 774; Ahmed al-Kuwaiti 245; Lubna al-Hassan – 241; Isa Musaifar – 231
3rd Muharraq 2014 first round votes: Jamal Buhassan – 1219 (21.6%); Ahmed Al Binali (Wasat) – 1061 (18.8%); Mohammed al-Mutawwa – 1032 (18.3%); Adel Bu-Anq – 693 (12.3%); Mohammed Murad – 631 (11.2%); Abdulnasir al-Mahmeed (Asalah) – 555 (9.8%); Yusuf al-Awadhi – 176; Abdulrahman Fakhro – 170; Mohammed Ahmedi – 61; Abdallah Saad – 52. 2014 second round vote: Jamal Buhassan – 2568 (52.3%); Ahmed Al Binali (Wasat) – 2341 (47.7%)
4th Muharraq
Incumbent MP Isa al-Kooheji easily won the contest outright in the 2018 first round against a couple of lesser-known candidates. MP Isa-al-Kooheji is not running for the 2022 elections.
Areas covered: Muharraq central
Number of candidates: 5
Voter demographic
These urban areas of Muharraq island would be expected to favour an independent loyalist candidate. However a dense patchwork of local communities have to be taken into account; Hawala, Bahrani, Ajam and tribal Arab.
This is one of the oldest areas of Muharraq island and so contains historically important sites. There are many critical social issues needing addressing including poverty, unemployment and poor quality of some older housing. Commentators in the past have noted the difficulty of predicting this contest because of the lack of a clear “political ideology” among this diverse community. Liberals, progressives, Salafists, and Muslim Brotherhood supporters can all be found here.
2022 candidates
Hisham Abdulaziz Mohammed Yousef Hussein al-Awadhi
Amin Abdalqadir Abdulrahman Mohammed Amin
Ali Hassan Jassim Abdullah Jassim
Abubakar Habib Mohammed Yousef
Nada Abdullah Ahmed Yousef al-Mansouri
Other information
Housing blocks: 207, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217
2014 registered voters: 7,904 2014 percentage 1st round voter turnout: 78.7%
2018 winner Isa al-Kooheji (incumbent MP – 2677). Vote tally for other candidates: Hisham al-Awadhi – 1732; Mohammed Khayami – 252
4th Muharraq 2014 first round votes: Isa al-Kooheji (MP) – 3022 (50.8%); Rima Halal – 887 (14.9%); Abdullah al-Aynati (NUG) – 675 (11.4%); Hamad al-Mearaj – 590 (9.9%); Majid al-Atawi – 196; Mohammed al-Murbati – 422; Mohammed Khayami – 154. 2014 contest decided by outright win in the first round of voting.
5th Muharraq
After losing his seat in 2014 to Mohammed al-Jowder, Mahmood al-Mahmood came top in the 2018 first round. However, municipal councillor Khalid Bu-Anq came from behind to clinch victory in round two.
Areas covered: Northeast Muharraq; Amwaj Islands; Qalali
Number of candidates: 14
Voter demographic
Lying to the northeast corner of Muharraq, this large constituency has the smallest number of registered voters in the Governorate, although it is one of five Muharraq constituencies with between 7,000 and 8,000 voters. Much of this constituency is built on recently reclaimed land, including Amwaj islands. As a result, the population is predominantly middle class and cosmopolitan. However, some of the southern parts of this constituency include working class areas of Qalali.
An Al-Watan newspaper 2014 survey for 5th Muharraq found widespread frustration amongst younger people in this area over poor housing provision and a perceived lack of action on the issues that matter by previous parliaments. There were also concerns about lack of suitable jobs for young graduates and lack of activities for younger people, while others noted the necessity of doing more for “marginalized” and disadvantaged constituents, like widows, unemployed, the elderly and those with special needs.
2022 candidates
Saad Mahboub Sultan al-Damoukh al-Dossary
Donya Abdulkarim Hussein Mirza Fakhrawi
Areej Abdullateef Mohammed Shareef
Yousef Mohammed Jassim Bahar
Jamal Abdullah Mohammed Abdullah al-Mutawa
Ali Yaqoub Yousef Mohammed al-Muqla
Noura Rashid Hassan al-Khatir
Ahmed Mohammed Hassan Mohammed Buhazza
Hanadi Issa Abdullah al-Jowder
Abeer Ahmed Yousef Ahmed al-Jowder
Khaled Saleh Ahmed Bu-Anq
Abdullah Yousef Abdullah Mohammed Hilal al-Sehli
Hussein Ali Hussein Jassim Mansour al-Nayim
Ahmed Najib Ahmed Essa Mohammed
Other information
Housing blocks: 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 263, 264, 265, 266, 269
2014 registered voters: 7,199 2014 percentage 1st round voter turnout: 87.6%
2018 second round results: Mahmood al-Mahmood (former MP – 3348) vs. Khalid Bu-Anq (municipal councilor – 4917)
2018 first round result: Mahmoud al-Mahmoud (1576) vs. Khalid Bu-Anq (1503). Vote tally for other candidates: Noura al-Khatir – 713; Ibrahim Bujiri – 672; Saad al-Mahboub – 635; Hanadi al-Jowder – 501; Mohammed al-Faraj – 389; Mohammed al-Jowder – 347; Ahmed Abdulmalik – 246; Ahmed al-Abbasi – 176; Nawaf Faraj – 56
5th Muharraq 2014 first round votes: Mohammed al-Jowder – 1252 (20.5%); Khalid Bu-Anq – 1245 (20.3%); Mahmoud al-Mahmoud (MP) – 1020 (16.7%); Muhammed al-Dakhil – 653 (10.7%); Mohammed al-Faraj – 583 (9.5%); Abdulaziz al-Majid – 504; Jamal Saad – 402; Sami al-Shaer (NUG) – 309; Ahmed al-Mannai – 90; Ibrahim Ali – 62. 2014 second round vote: Mohammed al-Jowder – 3358 (61.2%); Khalid Bu-Anq – 2129 (38.8%)
6th Muharraq
In 2018, relatively unknown candidate, Hesham al-Asheeri, won outright the seat which for many years was held by Abbas al-Madhi.
Areas covered: Dair & Samaheej
Number of candidates: 3
Voter demographic
Prior to 2011 this district had been held by Al-Wefaq, before being won by an independent candidate Abbas al-Madhi in the by-election that year. The significant opposition population which may in part decide to boycott makes the direction of the vote difficult to predict. However, several figures from the local Shia community have spoken out against the boycott.
2022 candidates
Muna Jassim Abdullah Ahmed al-Haiki
Hisham Ahmed Yousef Ahmed al-Asheeri
Asrar Abdulmajeed Ali Abdulhussein al-Asheeri
Other information
Housing blocks: 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237
2014 registered voters: 7,762 2014 percentage 1st round voter turnout: 11.1%
2018 winner Hisham al-Asheeri (1011). Vote tally for other candidates: Taghreed Alawi – 381; Azhar Ali 129; Anas Khalid Ateeq – 114; Hassan al-Samaheeji – 105
6th Muharraq 2014 first round votes: Abbas al-Madhi (MP) – 273 (38.8%); Nabil al-Ashiri – 270 (38.4%); Hassan al-Samaheeji – 82 (11.7%); Abbas al-Faraj – 78 (11.6%). 2014 second round vote: Abbas al-Madhi (MP) – 308 (52.9%); Nabil al-Ashiri – 274 (47.1%)
7th Muharraq
In 2018, Asalah MP Ali al-Muqla was convincingly defeated in a high-turnout vote, with Ammar, the son of former MP Sami Qambar, winning a massive 7317 votes in round two. This constituency has the highest number of candidates. MP Sami Qambar is not running for the 2022 elections.
Areas covered: Arad
Number of candidates: 18
Voter demographic
This relatively small constituency in terms of land area has the highest number of registered voters out of all the constituencies in Bahrain, at 13,204. Arad has a predominantly Sunni working class demographic. Commentators in previous elections were divided on whether the contest would be dominated by the political groupings or whether independent and technocratic figures would be more appealing to the voters. Ultimately the second round in 2018 ended up being dominated by candidates from Sunni Islamist societies, Asalah and Minbar; which Ali al-Muqla from Asalah won.
2022 candidates
Adel Malallah Abdullah Mohammed al-Khaldi
Rashid Khalifa Rashid Ahmed al-Binzayid
Hanan Saif Yousef Ahmed Arabi
Abdullah Isa Shahin Rashid al-Noaimi
Saleh Mohammed Abdullah al-Ashar
Hassan Mohammed Amin Abdulqadir Hassan al-Bastaki
Khadeeja Ali Abdullah Hassan al-Hamadi
Shaheen Abdullah Shaheen Ahmed al-Junaid
Ahmed Adel Ahmed Qassim al-Jowder
Abdullah Hassan Abdullah Rashed al-Dhaen
Isa Ahmed Abdulrahman al-Moosa
Khaled Jassim Mohammed Bu Mutaei
Waleed Isa Mohammed Isa al-Mannai
Mohammed Adnan Abdulrahman Abdulkarim Saleh al-Sada
Abdullah Khaled Abdullah al-Bastaki
Othman Mohammed Sharif al-Rayes
Bader Sultan Ali Hassan al-Hamadi
Mohammed Youssef Abdullah Gheilan
Other information
Housing blocks: 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248
2014 registered voters: 13,204 2014 1st round voter turnout: 74.2%
2018 second round results: Ammar Qambar (7317) vs. Yousif Abdulghaffar (academic – 2944)
2018 first round results: Ammar Qambar (2528) vs. Yousif Abdulghuffar (2014). Vote tally for other candidates: Ali al-Muqla – 950; Sabah al-Dossary – 789; Abdullah al-Bastaki – 752; Rashid al-Binzayed – 246; Salimah al-Aradi – 195; Rashid al-Jalal – 153; Ali al-Ansari, Najib Isa – 113; Hassan Ismail
7th Muharraq 2014 first round vote: Ali al-Muqla (Asalah) 1599 (17.1%); Nasir al-Fadhalah (Minbar) 1525 (16.3%); Mohammed al-Sulaiti – 1493 (16.0%); Badr al-Hammadi (Watan) – 1474 (15.8%); Abdulrahman al-Khashram – 1114 (11.9%); Khalid Ibrahim – 912 (9.8%); Mohammed Wazzan – 528; Mohammed Halal – 363; Adel al-Mannai – 331. Second round vote: Ali al-Muqla (Asalah) – 4057 (50.6%); Nasir al-Fadhalah (Minbar) – 3968 (49.5%)
8th Muharraq
Municipal councillor Yousif al-Dhawadi in 2018 easily defeated MP Abdulrahman Bu-Ali in 8th Muharraq; with former MP Samir Khadim beaten into third place. MP Yousif Al Dhawadi is not running for the 2022 elections.
Areas covered: Southern Muharraq; Hidd
Number of candidates: 9
Voter demographic
Hidd contains a large industrial area, substantial port and customs facilities, as well as boat-building and repair industries. There is a mixed working-class population and many new residential areas. There is also a north-south divide in this locality, which commentators have noted as a strong factor in who voters get behind.
2022 candidates
Ahmed Salman Jabr al-Musalam
Ammar Mahmoud al-Sheikh Abdullatif Al Mahmood
Riyadh Saleh Ibrahim Ali Saleh al-Ansari
Mohammed Isa Ahmed Ali al-Ammadi
Raed Khalil Ibrahim Ali al-Ahmed
Muhra Mohammed Abdullah Gharib
Samir Abdullah Abdulrahman Ahmed al-Khadim
Noor Adnan Abdullah al-Sheikh Hazim al-Shamsi
Abdulrahman Ali Abdulrahman Bu-Ali
Other information
Housing blocks: 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 128
2014 registered voters: 9,065 2014 percentage 1st round voter turnout: 85.9%
2018 second round results: Yousif al-Dhawadi (municipal councilor – 5246) vs. Abdulrahman Bu-Ali (incumbent MP – 3731)
2018 first round result: Yousif al-Dhawadi (1976) vs. Abdulrahman Bu-Ali (1465). Vote tally for other candidates: Samir Khadim – 1361; Raid al-Ahmed – 491; Mubarak al-Mukhaimar – 178; Abdullah Bu-Ghammar – 101; Talal Mohammed – 24;
8th Muharraq 2014 first round votes: Abdulrahman Bu-Ali – 4197 (55.7%); Samir Khadim (MP) – 3020 (40.1%); Abdullah Bughamar (Al-Saff) – 323 (4.3%). 2014 contest decided by outright win in the first round of voting.