Bahrain World Trade Center

The Bahrain World Trade Center is the twin-tower landmark on King Faisal Highway on the Manama waterfront, Bahrain. Its two 50-storey towers are shaped like sails, a nod to the dhows of the Gulf, and three horizontal bridges between them each carry a wind turbine. This made it the first skyscraper in the world to integrate large wind turbines into its design, and the turbines supply a share of the building's electricity. Visitors cannot enter the office towers or the turbine bridges, so the experience is about seeing the architecture from the ground and exploring the adjoining Moda Mall, which is open daily around 10:00 to 22:00 and features luxury fashion boutiques. Entry to the exterior and mall is free. The best viewpoints are from the plaza at the base, where the towers rise steeply and the turbines are visible overhead, and from the waterfront side looking back at the full silhouette. Sunset is the best time to come, when the towers catch warm light and illumination begins in the evening. A visit usually takes 30 to 60 minutes for photographs and a mall stroll. Crowds are small because the site is mostly an exterior landmark, though the mall is busier on Thursday and Friday evenings. The towers sit close to Bahrain Financial Harbour and Bab Al Bahrain, so they can be paired with a waterfront walk or an evening meal. A taxi or Careem from Bab Al Bahrain takes about five minutes for BHD 2. The surrounding area is also a good place to take wide photos of the Manama skyline when seen from the highway side. Visitors should respect security staff, avoid flying drones, and note that photography of the office entrances may be questioned.