Bahrain Hotels and Resorts, & Travel Reservations
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Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Arabian Gulf, situated between Saudi Arabia’s east coast and the Qatar peninsula with Manama, as the capital city. At the centre of the island is the highest point, Jebel Dukhan. The majority of Bahrain’s oil wells are to be found in this area.

The main island has the valuable asset of an adequate supply of fresh water, unique in the region, both on land and offshore. There are extensive date gardens to the north with irrigated vegetable and fruit gardens. The strategic 24km- (15-mile-) long King Fahad Causeway links Bahrain with Saudi Arabia.

This group of 35 islands lies in the Persian Gulf, close to the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia and not far from the western coast of Qatar. Bahrain, the main island from which the country took its name, is connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway. Another causeway links Bahrain with Al Muharraq, the second largest island in the group. The capital city of Manama is located in the main island. All the islands are low-lying; the highest point is 400 ft (122 m). Most of the land is naturally barren. However, drainage and other schemes have increased the amount of cultivable land. Summers are extremely hot and humid, and there is virtually no rain between June and November. Wintertime temperatures remain around 65ºF (18ºC).

Getting Around Bahrain

Getting There by Air: The national airline serving Bahrain is Gulf Air (GF). Several flights a week leave from Bahrain International Airport for other destinations within Bahrain.

Main Airports: Bahrain International (BAH) (Muharraq) is 6.5km (4 miles) northeast of Manama. Bus and taxi services run across the causeway to the main island (journey time – 15 minutes). Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, first aid, bars, snack bars, restaurants, nursery, prayer room, tourist information, post office, car hire and car parking are located alson in main airports. Routes serve most towns and villages.

Getting There by Road: A car drive to Dhahran (Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia) takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Bahrain using the King Fahad Causeway. A toll fee of approximately BD2 is payable by persons driving out of Bahrain. Normal Saudi Arabian visa regulations apply.Traffic drives on the right. Manama is served by an excellent road system. Road signs are written in English and Arabic.Metered taxis are readily available. They can be hired in the street or from stands outside hotels and at major tourist attractions. They are identifiable by their orange side-wings and yellow number plates. Taxis waiting outside hotels may charge more. Share-taxis which carry up to five passengers are also available. These are recognisable by a yellow circle with the licence number in black painted on the driver’s door and by their white and orange number plates. There are several designated pick-up points. Meters are not used and fares should always be agreed beforehand. Radio cabs are also available.Speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on highways and between 50-80kph (31-50mph) on all other roads.

Getting There by Water: Main ports: Mina Salman, Mina Manama and Mina Muharraq. These ports offer a quick and efficient entry into the country from all parts of the world. Passenger ferries operate between Iran and Bahrain (journey time – 16 hours). A port tax may be payable.Transport between the smaller islands is by motorboat or dhow.

Language. A long tradition of association with other cultures, a stable government and a strong sense of national identity make Bahrain a pleasant place to live. It is one of the few countries in the Gulf where the nationals represent the majority.Arabic is the official language of Bahrain. Farsi is not uncommon, and English is widely used in business.

Bahrain's population is a young one, with almost half under twenty. Illiteracy has virtually disappeared among young people and a high proportion of Bahrainis speaks English, which is a compulsory second language in schools.

Climate. June to October, hot and humid (42°C/108°F), December to April, mild (10-20°C/50-68°F). December through to March can be quite cool. Rainfall is slight and occurs mainly in winter. Spring and Autumn are the most pleasant months.

Required Clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens from spring to autumn, mediumweight clothes from November to March. Warmer clothes are necessary in winter and on cool evenings.

Islam is practised by around 85% of Bahraini society (of which 60% is Shi’ite and 40% Sunni). There are also other faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.

Religion. Traditional beliefs and customs are strong influences and people are generally more formal than Westerners. Attitudes to women are more liberal than in most Gulf States. Homosexuality, however, is illegal. Video cassettes will be withheld on arrival at the airport. It is illegal for Muslims to purchase alcohol from retail outlets. It is acceptable to sit cross-legged on cushions or sofas in people’s homes but it is still insulting to display the soles of the feet or shoes or to accept food or anything else with the left hand. It is polite to drink two small cups of coffee or tea when offered. Guests will generally be expected to share a bedroom since guest bedrooms and privacy are almost unknown. Sports clothes may be worn in the street and short dresses are acceptable; however, revealing clothing should be avoided. Smoking is very common and cheap by European standards.

Money

Currency:
Dinar (BHD) = 1,000 fils. Notes appear in denominations of BHD20, 10, 5, and 1, and 500 fils. Coins are in denominations of 100, 50, 25 and 10 fils.

Currency Exchange:
Currency can be exchanged at the airport, at most hotels and in banks and bureaux de change. Rates are more preferential at the bureaux de change than at the airport or at hotels.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs:
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in hotels, major stores and restaurants. Smaller shops may prefer to deal in cash. ATMs are available in major cities.

Banking Hours:
Sat-Wed 07:30-12:00 and 15:30-17:30; Thurs 07:30-11:00. Government offices, businesses and most offices are closed on Friday, which is a weekly holiday.

Economy. Oil dominates Bahrain’s economy and, together with gas and petrochemicals, accounts for the bulk of exports and government revenue. That proportion is falling, however, as Bahrain seeks to diversify its economy and the reserves dwindle.

Several successful industrial projects, including aluminium production, an iron-ore processing facility and an ammonia-methanol plant, have been set up.In the service sector, the financial services industry has expanded dramatically in recent years, as companies trading in the region have set up their regional centres in Bahrain, where the relatively relaxed environment is an important factor in a region where rigorous social mores are often the norm.

In September 2004, a Free Trade Pact was signed with the USA. However, Saudi Arabia condemned the move, saying it hindered regional economic integration.