Bahrain

Bahrain: Pearl of the Arabian Gulf

A small island nation in the Persian Gulf with ancient Dilmun civilization, pearl diving heritage, a world-famous Formula 1 circuit, and one of the more relaxed social environments in the Gulf.

Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 small islands in the Persian Gulf, connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway to the west and facing Qatar across the water to the east. It is the smallest country in Asia by land area but has a history that makes it significant far beyond its size.

It was a major center of the ancient Dilmun civilization, a Bronze Age culture mentioned in Sumerian texts, and later became the most important pearl diving hub in the world before oil transformed the Gulf economies.

Bahrain has historically been one of the more socially open Gulf states, with a cosmopolitan atmosphere in its capital Manama and a tradition of relative tolerance that distinguishes it from some of its neighbors. It was the first country in the Gulf to discover oil (in 1932) and has been working to diversify its economy beyond hydrocarbons ever since.

Why Visit Bahrain

The Bahrain National Museum is excellent, with a comprehensive collection covering the ancient Dilmun civilization, the pearl diving era, the oil era, and traditional Bahraini arts and crafts. The Dilmun-era burial mounds scattered across the island, which once numbered in the hundreds of thousands (making Bahrain the site of one of the largest ancient burial grounds in the world), are visible from roadsides throughout the country.

The Qal’at al-Bahrain (Bahrain Fort), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits on the northern coast of the main island. The fort was built over 5,000 years of continuous habitation, with the Dilmun settlement, Portuguese fort, and later structures all stacked on top of each other. The site museum has good explanatory exhibits.

The Muharraq Island pearling pathway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves the traditional architecture and trading infrastructure of Bahrain’s pearl diving industry. The merchant houses, pearl-weighing facilities, and mosque of the old pearling quarter give an excellent picture of the pre-oil economy that made Bahrain wealthy in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Tree of Life (Sharajat-al-Hayat) is one of Bahrain’s most unusual natural attractions. A 400-year-old mesquite tree stands completely alone in a flat, arid area of desert, with no apparent water source anywhere near it. The tree is healthy and continues to grow. Various explanations have been proposed, including deep root systems reaching water in the rock, but it remains genuinely mysterious. It is best visited at sunset.

The Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir hosts the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, traditionally one of the opening races of the season. The combination of the desert night race setting, the illuminated circuit, and the cool evening temperatures make it one of the most atmospheric rounds on the F1 calendar.

Top Places to Visit Bahrain

1. Manama Souq

The traditional souq in the center of Manama has gold, silver, fabrics, spices, and the pleasant Bab Al Bahrain gateway. The area is lively and relatively unchanged compared to the modern commercial districts.

2. Al Jasra House and Craft Center

A traditional Bahraini house preserved as a cultural museum, with workshops demonstrating traditional crafts including weaving, pottery, and dhow building nearby.

3. The Bahrain Bay and Waterfront

The new waterfront development has restaurants, cafes, and views of the Four Seasons Hotel, one of the most dramatic modern buildings in Bahrain.

Bahraini Food and Culture

Bahraini cuisine shares much with other Gulf states. Machboos, the spiced rice dish with meat or fish, is the staple. Fresh Gulf seafood is excellent. Balaleet, sweet vermicelli with eggs, is eaten for breakfast. Halwa, a gelatinous sweet made from saffron and nuts, is served at social occasions.

Travel Tip for Bahrain

Citizens of most countries can get a visa on arrival or online e-visa. The Bahraini dinar is the currency. Arabic is the official language, with English widely spoken. Bahrain is more socially relaxed than some Gulf neighbors, including allowing alcohol in licensed venues. The best time to visit is October to April.