The Kingdom of Bahrain has experienced accelerated development growth since the 1980s. These rapid land demands increased the pressure on the country area to rebuild urban centers and cities surrounding the coast. The purpose of this research is to detect and investigate changes in land use and land cover (LULC), which is one of the most critical aspects of planning and managing the use of land as a natural resource. The massive growth in land demand, particularly in small-area countries like Bahrain, forces decision-makers to re-plan the main island areas (Bahrain, Muharraq, Sitra, and Nabih Saleh). The study focuses on mapping the LULC changes detection over 1986–2020. It employs an integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS (Geographic Information System) to analyze and evaluate the changes in the LULC area in the main islands using multi-temporal and multispectral Landsat satellite imagery acquired in 1986, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2013, and 2020. In addition, high-resolution satellite images of different dates IKONOS 2000, GeoEye1 2011, 2013, Worldview3 2019, ASTER 2012, 2013, and multiresolution seamless image database-MrSID 1994, 1998 were used to enhance the LULC classification. Furthermore, different ancillary data were utilized to adjust the decision of LULC classes. The images were supervised using Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) algorithms to generate the seven LULC maps. The seven-raster classification maps revealed overall accuracies exceeding 85%, and overall Kappa statistics range between 87 and 95%. The results indicate that the increment in the built-up area was dominant over the last 3 decades.

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In this study, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques were integrated to map out and assess the changes of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) maps in Muharraq Governorate (Island), in the Kingdom of Bahrain, from 1951 to 2008. The datasets used are: analogue topographic maps for the years of 1951, 1970, 1977, 1985 and 1994, Aerial photographs taken in the years of 1961, 2001, and finally IKONOS Satellite imagery, taken in 2008 with ground spatial resolution of 1 m. The methodology adopted was based on the Collection of datasets mentioned above; Map scanning; Geo-referencing and/ or Ortho-rectification, Visual interpretation, and Results output. Visual interpretation was done and eight LULC maps (Classifications) were produced. The results showed that the total area of Muharraq has increased from 13 km 2 in 1951 to 56 km 2 in 2008. Accordingly, urban areas increased from 2.3 to 9.7 km 2 and industrial area from 0.0 to 14.0 km 2 . Similarly, the length of coastal line has increased from 35.0 to 166.0 km and finally, the road network from 11.5 to 450.5 km.

Manama, the capital city of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a major port in the Arabian Gulf, a financial hub. Following the discovery of oil, Bahrain attracted skilled and unskilled expats. The Government initiated plans for urban development. Urban growth was at the expense of agricultural and desert lands in addition to reclaiming land from water bodies. Affluent Bahrainis moved to newer settlements. Low-income Bahrainis continued to live in the old quarters. Single male workers, mostly Asians, moved into dilapidated buildings in the old quarters of the city. The paper employs a mixed research approach. It uses Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems to account for urban transformations; and as well as document review, interviews, and a questionnaire to understand the process underlying these transformations and their outcomes. The results show how globalisation and neoliberalism led Manama to emerge as a global city. Cultural identity and geographic location within the Bahraini metropolitan area suggest these relationships are dynamic. Planners perceived Bahraini cities as a morphological phenomenon. They did not comprehend the complexity of the socio-cultural particularities of Bahraini cities. Revitalising the old quarters of Manama can serve as a national mega project, thus conserving its cultural identity.

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