TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a relatively liberal and modern country in the Middle East which has been a favourite travel destination in the region. Annually it gets over 3 million tourists from over the world.
Bahrain offers a well-balanced mix of ancient culture and modern society.
Manama- the capital city.
Take a guided tour in the Bahrain's capital, explore this city where modern highrise buildings mix well with old architectural marvels. Manama's main attraction is the National Museumwhich which fabulous exhibits cover 9 thousand years of humankind history on the island.
Muharraq Island
Muharraq is an older city than Manama, and has more traditional houses with unique architecture from the 1800-s to take a look at.
Barbar Temple
Barbar is a historical site is comprised of three 4-thousand years old temples, dedicated to gods. Surrounded by walkways, it provides an impressive view of the temples.
Al Khamis Mosque
Built in the 8th Century, Al Khamis Mosque is thought to be the first mosque in Bahrain, and is one of the oldest Islamic relics in the region
Qal'at al-Bahrain - the Portugese Fort
The Bahrain's main historical site, Qal'at al-Bahrain is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Archaelogists found several settlements on the site, the earliest dating from 5 thousand years ago.
Royal Tombs
Contain over 80,000 burial sites. Called Royal mostly for the size of the mounds which reach up to 4-storey high and up to a half of football field in diameter. The village of A'ali is a good traditional pottery shopping place.

TRAVEL TIPS

Summer months are extremely hot and humid, and not recommended for elderly tourists and travelers with heart and lung coditions. The best time to visit Bahrain is October to February, avoiding Muslim holidays of Ramadan and Eid when Bahrain is overcrowded with pilgrims.
There is a threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.
Crime incidents are not common. Most visits are trouble free. Female visitors should take care when travelling alone at night and are advised to use one of the reputable taxi companies. You should also take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid public gatherings and demonstrations, some of which have turned violent.
Driving in Bahrain is permitted on a valid international driver's licence. Bahrain operates a zero tolerance to drink driving. If caught, you will be arrested, and fined a minimum $1,500 USD fine. For repeat offenders the fines and driving ban will be far harsher.
You should exercise care when travelling by Dhow- the local type of boat. Safety of these vessels may not be up to international standards. You should also ensure that life jackets are available.
Bahrain is a liberal modern country, but many Bahrainis are conservative and find revealing clothing or immoderate behaviour in public offensive. It is best to dress conservatively except within the confines of hotels or clubs, at least until you know your way around. Religious and social sensitivities should be observed and respected, especially during religious festivals.
You should not bring videocassettes or DVDs into the country, as these may be withheld on arrival at the airport. It is against the law for any Muslim to purchase alcohol from retail outlets.
Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Bahrain.
Bahrain Embassies issue six-month visit visas. Three-month visas are granted on arrival. For detailed visa requirements check the list of Embassies of Bahrain to the World or Embassies of Other Nations to Bahrain. Do not overstay the period of time allowed on your visa. Penalties and extension are surprisingly expensive. Your passport should have at least six months validity when you travel.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Bahrain.

BRIEF HISTORY

Bahrain's strategic location in the Persian Gulf has brought rule and influence from the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, and finally the Arabs, under whom the island became Muslim. Bahrain was in the ancient times known as Dilmun, later under its Greek name Tylos (see Dilmun for more information), as Awal as well as under the Persian name Mishmahig when it came under the imperial rule of the Persian Empire. Bahrain became part of the Babylonian empire about 600 BC. Historical records referred to Bahrain with names such as the "Life of Eternity", "Paradise", and Eden. Bahrain was also called the "Pearl of the Persian Gulf".
The Dilmun burial mounds, a 4,000 year old necropolis in A'ali, Bahrain.
Until Bahrain embraced Islam in 629 AD, it was a centre for Nestorian Christianity. In 899, a millenarian Ismaili sect, the Qarmatians, seized hold of the country and sought to create a utopian society based on reason and the distribution of all property evenly among the initiates. The Qarmatians caused widespread disruption throughout the Islamic world: they collected tribute from the caliph in Baghdad; and in 930 sacked Mecca and Medina, bringing the sacred Black Stone back to Bahrain where it was held to ransom.
Until 1521, when the Portuguese conquered the Awal Islands, "Bahrain" referred to the larger historical region of Bahrain that included Ahsa, Qatif (both now constitute the eastern province of Saudi Arabia) and the Awal (now the Bahrain) Islands. The region stretched from Basrah to the Strait of Hormuz in Oman. From the sixteenth century to 1743, control of Bahrain drifted between the Portuguese and the Persians. Ultimately, the Persian Afsharid king, Nadir Shah, invaded and took control of Bahrain.
In 1782, the Al Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center.

GEOGRAPHY

Area: total: 665 sq km; land: 665 sq km.
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers.
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment.
Natural Resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls.
Natural Hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms.
Environmental Problems: desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs.

PEOPLE

Population: 700,000.
Median Age: total: 29.7 years; male: 32.7 years; female: 26.1 years.
Life Expectancy: male: 72.18 years, female: 77.25 years.
Major Ethnic Groups: Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6%.
Religions: Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8%.

GOVERNMENT

Type: constitutional hereditary monarchy (Kingdom of Bahrain).
Capital City: Manama.
Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time). Check current time.
National Holiday: National Day, 16 December (1971).

ECONOMY

With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account for over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries), underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years. Other major segments of Bahrain's economy are the financial and construction sectors. Bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the country's dependence on oil. As part of this effort, in August 2006 Bahrain and the US implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
GDP: $17.7 billion, Growth Rate: 7.6%, GDP Per Capita: $25,300.
Unemployment Rate: 15%.
Agriculture Products: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish.
Major Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism.
Export Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles.
Export Partners: Saudi Arabia 3.3%, US 2.6%, UAE 2.3%.
Import Commodities: crude oil, machinery, chemicals.
Import Partners: Saudi Arabia 36.5%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 6.4%, US 5.4%, UK 5%, UAE 4.1%.
Currency: Bahraini dinar (BHD). Check current rate of exchange.