Madinat Hamad or Hamad Town (Arabic مدينة حمد‎) is a district in Northern Bahrain. Previously, it was the municipality of Bahrain, in the central part of the country. It was separated from the municipality of Ar Refa’ wa al Mintaka al Janubiya in 1991. Its territory now belongs to the Northern Province. The name is given in honor of the real king of Bahrain, Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifa. The city is culturally diverse, with a mixed Shia-Sunni population of various socio-economic strata. Today, Hamad is the epitome of Bahraini multiculturalism, with more than one ethnic or religious group.

History
Hamad was founded in 1984 as a residential town where the government has built social housing for those who cannot afford housing with ever-increasing prices.
In 1990, the government opened the door to Bahrain to Kuwaitis who were suffering from the effects of the Gulf War with Iraq. It provided free homes and schools in Hamad Town and allowed them to use the city’s amenities. The Kuwaitis returned home in early 1991 at the end of the war. In 2001, the government gave the buildings to the population of the city.
The Bahrain Fort is a popular tourist attraction in the area. The exact date of construction is unknown; presumably 2800 BC e.

Geography
Hamad is located 18 km from the capital of the state – Manama, and 19 km from the airport. It is close to the Sakhir area which contains the huge Formula 1 racing circuit (Bahrain International Circuit), which is the largest circuit in the Middle East. Hamad Town is also famous for its 22 laps. By 2005, the city’s population was 52,718.

Law and Government
Hamad is part of the Northern Province, one of the five provinces of Bahrain. However, the government forbids making its own laws and the district must comply with all national laws of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Economy
The people of Hamad Town tend to travel to Manama for work. Most of Hamad Town is a residential area, but there is a large shopping center called Souq Waqif which contains many shops and provides some employment in Hamad. Tourist attractions include “Museum of Pearls”, one of the important historical buildings in Bahrain, and the first official court of Bahrain. There is also another museum – Bayt-al-Ku’ran, which houses a huge collection of the Holy Quran and manuscripts.