Bahrain
Phone Code
+973
Capital
Manama
Population
1.5 Million
Native Name
البحرين
Region
Asia
Western Asia
Timezone
Arabia Standard Time
UTC+03:00
On This Page
Bahrain is an island nation in the Arabian Gulf, connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway and known for its liberal atmosphere, financial services sector, and Formula 1 Grand Prix. Manama, the capital, offers modern shopping malls, traditional souqs, luxury hotels, and waterfront dining. Visitors are drawn to Bahrain Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain), the Grand Mosque, Bahrain National Museum, Tree of Life, and pearl diving heritage. Bahrain provides accessible entry through e-visa and visa on arrival for most international visitors.
Visa Requirements for Bahrain
Bahrain offers multiple entry options for international visitors. Citizens of GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar) can enter visa-free. Many nationalities can apply for e-visa online through evisa.gov.bh before travel or obtain visa on arrival at Bahrain International Airport. E-visa application requires valid passport, passport photograph, accommodation details, return flight ticket, and visa fee payment. Visa on arrival is available for eligible nationalities at airport immigration. GCC residents holding valid residence permits can obtain visa on arrival regardless of nationality. Business travelers may require sponsorship from Bahraini companies. Processing for e-visa typically takes 3-5 business days.
Common Visa Types
E-Visa (Tourist)
For tourism, leisure travel, visiting friends and family, cultural events for eligible nationalities.
Visa on Arrival
For eligible nationalities and GCC residents arriving at Bahrain International Airport without advance visa.
GCC Resident Visa
For residents of GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar) holding valid residence permits.
Business Visa
For commercial meetings, conferences, trade missions with sponsorship from Bahraini company or organization.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
The smallest Arab state packs an outsized punch. Bahrain is a 33-island archipelago in the Arabian Gulf where the ancient Dilmun civilisation once controlled the trade corridors between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley — and where today a Formula 1 circuit, rooftop cocktail bars and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites coexist on a landmass smaller than most world capitals. Bahrain Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain), a tell site with occupation layers spanning roughly four thousand years from Dilmun through the Portuguese colonial period, anchors the archaeological heritage. The Pearling Trail in Muharraq threads together restored merchant houses, oyster beds and the Bu Maher Fort along a 3.5-kilometre waterfront walk that tells the story of the pearl-diving economy that sustained the islands before oil. The Al-Fateh Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the world, welcomes non-Muslim visitors with free guided tours — an openness emblematic of Bahrain's position as the most socially liberal Gulf state. Manama's skyline juxtaposes the wind-tower architecture of the old Bab al-Bahrain souq with the sail-shaped Bahrain World Trade Center, the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design. The Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir hosts the season-opening F1 night race under floodlights against a desert backdrop. And the King Fahd Causeway, a 25-kilometre bridge to Saudi Arabia, makes the kingdom an easy gateway into or out of the wider Gulf.
Ways to Experience This Destination
Bahrain Fort (Qal'at al-Bahrain, UNESCO) preserves roughly four thousand years of continuous habitation from the Dilmun civilisation through the Kassites, Portuguese and Persian periods, with a modern site museum. The Pearling Trail in Muharraq (UNESCO) covers 3.5 kilometres of restored pearl-merchant houses, warehouses and the Bu Maher Fort — the last intact landscape of the pearl-diving industry that once made Bahrain the richest islands in the Gulf. Traditional pearl-diving excursions (October to March) let visitors join dhow crews on the oyster banks for a hands-on glimpse of pre-oil Bahrain.
The Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir introduced Formula 1 to the Middle East in 2004. The floodlit night race — typically the season opener — is among the most visually dramatic on the calendar, with cars threading through the desert under artificial light. Outside race weekends the circuit hosts endurance races, drag events and public track days where visitors can drive or be driven around the Grand Prix layout.
The Bab al-Bahrain souq in central Manama is a sensory maze of spices, oud perfumes, gold and hand-woven textiles. Bahraini cuisine blends Arab, Indian and Persian influences: machboos (spiced rice with lamb or hammour fish), muhammar (sweet date rice) and paper-thin regag bread with every breakfast. As the most liberal Gulf state, Bahrain has a genuine bar and restaurant scene — rooftop lounges in Adliya and Juffair, Friday brunches, live music — making it the weekend escape valve for visitors from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
The Al-Fateh Grand Mosque seats seven thousand worshippers beneath a 25-metre fibreglass dome — the largest of its kind in the world. Free guided tours (except Fridays) explain Islamic calligraphy, architecture and faith to non-Muslim visitors with notable openness. The Beit al-Quran museum houses one of the Gulf's finest collections of Quranic manuscripts spanning centuries and calligraphic traditions from North Africa to Central Asia.
The Tree of Life (Shajarat al-Hayat), a solitary 400-year-old mesquite tree thriving in the barren southern desert with no visible water source, is one of Bahrain's most mysterious landmarks. The Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve protects Arabian oryx and desert gazelles. Offshore, the Amwaj Islands and Al Dar Islands offer beach resorts, kayaking, dolphin-watching trips and shallow-water snorkelling over Bahrain's coral gardens.
Money & Currency
Bahraini Dinar (BHD)
Currency code: BHD
Practical Money Tips
Bahraini Dinar — One of the World's Most Valuable Currencies
The Bahraini Dinar (BHD, BD) is one of the highest-valued currencies globally, fixed at approximately 1 BHD = 2.65 USD. It is subdivided into 1,000 fils (not 100 cents). Exchange rates against the USD are fixed and very stable. USD and Euros are widely accepted in major hotels and malls. Saudi Riyals (SAR) are commonly accepted, especially in shops near the King Fahd Causeway, as hundreds of thousands of Saudi visitors cross weekly.
ATMs Widespread in Manama — Excellent Cash Infrastructure
Bahrain has excellent ATM coverage in Manama, Riffa, and Muharraq. National Bank of Bahrain, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, and Arab Bank ATMs are widely distributed. International Visa and Mastercard work reliably. Bahrain International Airport arrivals hall has several ATMs. ATM daily limits may be low (BD 200–300); if you need larger cash amounts, use a bank teller.
Very Card-Friendly — Contactless and Mobile Payments Well Established
Bahrain is one of the Gulf's most card-friendly countries. Visa, Mastercard, and Amex are accepted at virtually all hotels, malls, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Contactless payments are standard. Apple Pay and Google Pay work across most modern POS terminals. Smaller traditional souq stalls, independent workshops, and dhow-trip operators may prefer cash.
Mid-to-High Cost Destination — Lower Than UAE or Qatar
Bahrain is generally less expensive than Dubai or Doha. Mid-range hotel: BD 40–80/night ($105–210). Dining at a good restaurant: BD 8–20 ($21–53) per person. The food court at Bahrain City Centre is excellent value at BD 2–4. Local harees and machboos at neighbourhood restaurants: BD 1.5–3. Bring cash for traditional market shopping, Al-Qaisaria souq, and tips.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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