AL ALAWI HOUSE

When Mahmoud Muhammed al-Alawi built this house in the early 1930 s, he was already a well-established merchant. He did not live with the pearl itself, but his economic spinoffs. Importer, he sold to the cabin crew, tobacco, strings, anchors and fabric for the sails. Naval carpenters, gypsum powder, fish oil and wood. Even divers were among its customers: Leather gloves, pliers and baskets were best sellers. He had even developed a caboton system to refuel fresh water during the pearl season. This two-story house is the last representative of a common style in the thirties with two floors overlooking an inner courtyard, overcome with a wind tower (bagdir). The latter is one of the last two bagdirs of Muharraq, with the royal residence of Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa.