In Arabic, the name ‘Bahrain’ means ‘two seas’. Since the dawn of history, Bahrain has been a trading center and until about a generation ago, virtually all trade came and went via the sea. Bahrain’s history goes back to the roots of human civilization during the 3rd Millenium BC when the island nation was home to ‘Dilmun’, an ancient civilization founded during the Bronze Age. The island’s strategic position along key trade routes linking Mesopotamia with the Indus Valley helped to make Bahrain a vital trade hub for many different groups and peoples through the ages...More Info
Bahrain’s strategic location in the region still serves it to this day, as Bahrain has become the focal point of business in the Gulf. The island is the financial hub of the Middle East and offers some of the most advanced business and tourist services in the region. From history and heritage to shopping and leisure, Bahrain has become a destination for every kind of traveler.
FACTS ABOUT BAHRAIN
Population: 1,214,705
Capital: Manama
Area: 760 Sq. km.
Language: Arabic, English, Farsi & Urdu. English is widely spoken.
Religion: Muslim (people are open & religiously tolerant)
Climate: Arid, mild winters, very hot & humid summer.
Ideal time to visit: Oct to Apr
Summer: Jun – Aug (37 – 45 Degree Celsius)
Winter: Dec – Jan (08 – 25 Degree Celsius)
Currency: Bahraini Dinar (1 BD – US$ 2.65 / Euro 2.15)
Life Expectancy: 74
GDP Per Capita: US$ 15,100
Literacy Percent: 89
Time: +3 Hrs GMT (winter)
+2 Hrs GMT (summer)
Al Fateh Grand Mosque - Set against the backdrop of palm trees, the Grand Mosque strikes a beautiful picture. With its exquisite Bahraini architecture, crowned by the world's largest fiberglass dome and blessed with tranquility reserved for the holiest of holy places, The Grand Mosque truly lives up to its name. Though non-Muslim visitors are welcome, it is important to dress modestly, cover your head (for women) and take your shoes off before entering. (Closed on all Fridays).
Bahrain National Museum - Situated on the intersection of the Muharraq Causeway and King Faisal Highway, it houses a wonderful collection of exhibits, from contemporary Bahraini paintings, sculptures and ceramics to scenes depicting life in the Dilmun civilization of 6000 years ago and even a reconstructed burial mound, complete with skeleton! A section on Arabic calligraphy, including a beautiful display of illuminated Qur'ans and other religious documents, is breathtaking, and of course no visit would be complete without a closer look at traditional trades and crafts, which are cleverly displayed in a reconstruction of a typical souq of the 1930s. There are also photographs and models of pearl exhibitions and artifacts to represent the former source of Bahrain's wealth before the advent of oil. Many, many more exhibits add up to a memorable experience, and a deeper understanding of the fascinating history of the Island. (Closed on all Mondays). ...Top
Bait Al-Qur'an - Located in the city of Manama, Bait Al-Qur'an, or "House of Qur'an", was inaugurated in March 1990.It is a typical specialised Museum consisting of several floors and characterised by a most distinctive Islamic design. The Bait Al-Qur'an houses ancient manuscripts of the Holy Qur'an that have been collected from the Islamic World in general and from North Africa, Iran, India and China in particular. It also displays rare great Islamic artifacts, jewellery and gold-ornamented glass utensils, indicating the great Islamic heritage arts that have had an influence throughout the world. The building also includes a lecture hall provided with sophisticated equipment, a library of scientific and Islamic reference books, an Arabic calligraphy exhibitions and translations of the Qur'an into several languages. It is definitely worth visiting as part of Bahrain's tourist landmarks. (Closed on all Fridays).
Bahrain Fort - The Fort is at a distance of nearly 17 kilometres from the city of Manama and is situated at Karbabad. The Portuguese built the Fort in 1522 on the ruins of an earlier small fort built by the people of Bahrain. The Portuguese added the high walls, the huge square towers and a surrounding moat which is still visible to visitors. The Bahrain Fort occupies a strategic military position where the navigation movement could be watched. Excavations have revealed ancient soldier's barracks, horse stables, an ammunition depot, a secret passageway, ceramic utensils and Islamic and Chinese currency coins. ...Top
Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House - Situated in Bahrain's second city, Muharraq, the house was constructed by Shaikh Hassan Bin Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al-Fatih and was used by Shaikh Isa Bin Ali as his residence and center of Government from 1869 - 1932. The house consists of four main sections: the family wing, the Shaikh's wing, the Guest's wing and the attendant's wing. The house is designed in traditional style where the rooms are directly overlooking an open courtyard, with a wind tower, a feature of the traditional architecture in the Arabian Gulf region. The house represents the 19th century construction style in which local building materials were used. Such materials included coral stone, mortar and palm tree trunks. The windows are decorated in ventilated gypsum geometrical designs for which Bahrain was well known.
Camel Farm - The Camel Farm is located in Janabiya, owned by His Highness the late Shaikh Mohammed Bin Salman AlKhalifa, uncle of the current ruler. There are more than 400 camels in this farm. ...Top
Al-Jasra Handicraft Centre - Situated in the village of Al-Jasra, the center is a significant tourist place of interest, in recognition of the fact that the ladies of this village are well known for their skill in palm weaving. The Centre consists of a number of rooms, displaying different traditional handicrafts such as cloth weaving, pottery, Sadow (Bedouin weaving), Kuwaiti chests and traditional dhow models. The upper floor exhibitions stalls display models of traditional living rooms and kitchens with their attractive traditional furniture. There is also a gift shop selling local handicrafts and souvenirs produced by people who have attended special training courses designed to preserve such handicrafts. The Al-Jasra Handicrafts Centre regularly organizes heritage festivals to display the traditional lifestyle of Bahrain's old towns and villages.
Bait Al-Jasra - Situated at the village of Al-Jasra, on the West Coast of Bahrain, Bait Al-Jasra or Al-Jasra House was constructed by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa in 1907 and was later taken as a summer residence by Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Ruler of Bahrain from 1942 to 1961. The house was designed according to the traditional Bahraini architecture to suit the local environment. The local building materials used included coral, gypsum and palm-tree trunks. It consists of several rooms used for different purposes such as sitting, living, family, kitchen and date juice extraction. All the rooms are traditionally furnished. A distinctive feature in the courtyard is the Seyam, a moderately elevated palm front terrace used for night rest.
Ancient Burial Mounds - Bahrain has probably the largest pre-historic cemetery in the world. There is an estimated 170,000 burial mounds dating back to between 3000 BC and 600 AD. Each of these mounds covers a stone built chamber which formed the grave. Many of these are intact today, many having been looted way back in the past or destroyed over the years. The best preserved of the mounds can be seen at A'ali village. The mounds continue to both mystify and teach historians and archaeologists. ...Top
King Fahad Causeway - Opened in 1986, this remarkable 25km feat of engineering links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most expensive bridges in the world. The causeway traverses Umm Nasan Island, which is a sanctuary for wildlife, and at halfway point there is a facility area, including one tower restaurant, which you can visit even if you don't travel the whole distance to Saudi Arabia.
Al-Areen Wild Park - Situated in the village of Zallaq, the sanctuary was inaugurated in 1975 under the gracious patronage of His Highness the Amir. Covering eight square kilometers, the sanctuary provides a natural habitat for several kinds of plants and more than 500 species of animals and birds. The animals include Arabian Reem Gazelles, Oryx, Zebras, huge Tortoises, Desert Hedgehogs and Arabian Camels, as well as various birds such as ostriches, flamingoes, falcon, storks and ducks. Guided tours are conducted within the sanctuary, where animals can be seen in their natural habitats. ...Top
Tree Of Life - This well-matured tree has come to be known as the Tree Of Life because of the mystery surrounding its existence in the middle of the desert and without any known water source. The fact that it stands alone in this area has further raised the curiosity of visitors and specialists alike for many years. The tree, believed to be from the Acacia family, sheds its leaves in winter but grows yellow flowers, which are apparent in both spring and autumn. This type of tree is able to withstand harsh environments and can live for many years.
First Oil well / Oil Museum - Bahrain was the first country to discover oil in the Arabian Gulf region. Oil was discovered in 1932 near Jebel Dukhan or Mountain of Smoke. You can see the first oil well here. The oil museum is located a few metres from this oil well. The museum allows you to trace the discovery of what has been the region's best-known export. Exhibits include drilling equipment, samples of rocks found underground, photographs, a working model of an oil rig, topographical maps and some information about the companies that had participated in the exploration of oil. ...Top
Bahrain International Circuit - Bahrain International Circuit is the Home of Motorsport in the Middle East - an icon for the Kingdom of Bahrain and centre for corporate and retail entertainment and hospitality. The circuit annually hosts the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, and other international motor races such as the Australian V8 Supercars and GP2 Asia Championships. The circuit is at the leading edge of local and regional race series with a world-class quarter mile Drag strip. Drag racing is a major sport in the region and the ALBA Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship is now one of the foremost series with competitors from all over the Gulf.
BIC is a natural venue for corporate hospitality and entertainment with over 400 events held each year at the track. The circuit can cater for groups both large and small on a diverse range of motoring on-track and off-track related activities. The “Kart Zone” is open three days a week and is a centre for individual and corporate karting as well as a venue for kart racing. Off-road enthusiasts can enjoy the region’s leading 4x4 course with its unique “Hummer Academy”; a location for desert driving, first aid and survival skills. BIC’s “Welcome Centre” is open every day of the year with a wide range of motor sport merchandise and clothing together with a coffee shop, information about the circuit and video games. ...Top
For further information visit the website www.bahraingp.com or call the contact centre on (00973) 17450000.
Royal Golf Club - Royal Golf Club, situated in the heart of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Royal Golf Club forms the centerpiece of Riffa Views, the island's first luxury residential gated community.
Conveniently located just 30-minutes drive from the capital city, Manama, and the same distance from the Saudi-Bahrain causeway, the Royal Golf Club attracts visitors from all over the world.
As a semi-private establishment, the Royal Golf Club offers the best of both worlds; exclusive membership options are available for keen golfers living locally while visitors from overseas are always very welcome to come and enjoy our unrivalled facilities while in the Kingdom.
Opened in 2008, the Royal Golf Club's world class 18-hole championship course was designed by golfing legend and acclaimed golf course architect Colin Montgomerie. The 7102 yard, par 72 Montgomerie course offers a truly unique blend of links and desert golf, taking advantage of Bahrain’s natural rough desert terrain and combining it with vast manmade lakes. The desert feel is retained through the use of sandy waste bunkers and the attractive indigenous vegetation and grasses used in the landscaping. However, the rolling links-style fairways and undulating greens are immaculately maintained. With five teeing ground options on each hole the Montgomerie course delivers a challenging and unforgettable experience
