Riffa is the second-biggest city in terms of area inside the Kingdom of Bahrain. East Riffa, West Riffa, and North Riffa are the three sections that make up Riffa. The Southern Governorate encompasses the entirety of the city.

The population of the city is expected to have grown from 79,550 in the 2001 census to 111,000 in 2008. This indicates the city’s rapid growth.

The past
Prior to the port of Manama replacing it during the 19th century, Riffa was the main settlement on Bahrain Island.