The traditional commercial heart of Muharraq has been given a serious facelift. Since the mid-19th century, it was here, in the district's cafés, that the pearl merchants did their business. After the 1930s, the district rapidly lost its importance and activity was reduced to local shops. In 2010, a regeneration project was launched. It will continue until 2022 under the direction of the Dutch studio Anne Holtrop. The result is quite spectacular: historic buildings have been preserved, such as the Siyadi shops, next to which is a historic café that has remained in its original state since 1932, with its Indian billiards table inside.