Bahrain

Safety notice. The US State Department rates Bahrain Level 3, “Reconsider travel,” because of terrorism and armed conflict. The UK FCDO stopped advising against all but essential travel on 20 August 2026, but it still warns of further attacks, regional escalation and flight disruption, and says insurance may be invalid if you travel against its advice. Read the US advisory and the UK advice before you book.

Where Is Bahrain Located?

This Bahrain travel guide begins with the map. Bahrain is an island country in the Persian Gulf, west of the Qatar peninsula and east of Saudi Arabia, with no land border. The capital is Manama, and the land area is about 787 square kilometers.

Last checked: November 2026.

Bahrain is an archipelago. The main island holds most of the land, and Muharraq, Sitra and the Hawar Islands are among the others. Land reclamation keeps adding new ground, so area figures vary slightly by source. The 787 square kilometer figure comes from the Kingdom of Bahrain national portal.

Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is joined to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway, which is about 24 kilometers long according to Britannica. Qatar lies to the east across the Gulf of Bahrain. The name means “two seas,” and a common explanation points to the salt water of the Gulf and the fresh springs that rise beneath it.

The land is low and mostly desert, with a rocky center on the main island. Bahrain uses UTC+3 all year and does not change its clocks. If you plan to cross by road or fly in, our guides to getting around Bahrain and flights to Bahrain explain the options.

Bahrain Travel Guide: What Is Bahrain Known For?

Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy and one of the smallest countries in the Arab world. Arabic is the official language, the currency is the Bahraini dinar, and the capital is Manama. About 1.6 million people lived there in 2024, according to the Information and eGovernment Authority, and the figure covers the whole country, not just Manama.

More than half of the residents are non-Bahrainis, which is why English, Hindi, Urdu and other languages are heard daily. The head of state is the king, and the National Assembly has an elected Council of Representatives and an appointed Shura Council. Bahrain became a kingdom in 2002.

The country is known for pearl diving, early oil, the Formula 1 circuit at Sakhir and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes Qal’at al-Bahrain (2005), the Pearling Path (2012) and the Dilmun Burial Mounds (2019). Our guide to the best places to visit in Bahrain covers each one.

A common misunderstanding is that Bahrain belongs to the United Arab Emirates. It doesn’t. It is a separate country with its own monarchy, currency and laws. Most visitors need a visa, and the Bahrain visa guide explains the routes. Because the island is small, one base in Manama is usually enough, and the where to stay in Bahrain guide compares areas.

History of Bahrain: From Dilmun to the Modern Kingdom

Bahrain’s recorded history begins with Dilmun, a Bronze Age trading civilization active around the late third and second millennia BCE. Later rulers included the Persians, the Portuguese and, since 1783, the Al Khalifa family. Bahrain became independent from Britain on 15 August 1971 and declared itself a kingdom in 2002.

Dilmun and the Bronze Age

Dilmun sat on sea routes between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, and Sumerian texts mention it as a trading partner. UNESCO dates the earliest remains at Qal’at al-Bahrain to about 2300 BCE and describes the site as the ancient harbor and capital of Dilmun. The Dilmun Burial Mounds, which date from roughly 2050 to 1750 BCE, are still visible in the west of the main island.

Tylos, Persian Rule and the Arrival of Islam

Greek writers from the late fourth century BCE called the island Tylos. Persian empires later controlled it, and Islam reached the region in the seventh century CE. Historically, the name Bahrain covered a wider part of eastern Arabia, not only the islands. That is why older texts can seem to describe a much larger place.

Pearls, the Portuguese and the Al Khalifa

The Portuguese took control in 1521 and were driven out in 1602, after which Safavid Persia ruled the islands. The Al Khalifa family took power in 1783. Britain signed protection treaties with Bahrain’s rulers in the nineteenth century. Pearling was the main economy until cultured pearls cut demand in the early twentieth century, a story told on the Pearling Path website.

Oil, Independence and Today

Oil was discovered in 1932, the first find on the Arab side of the Gulf. Independence followed in 1971. Since then the economy has widened into banking, aluminum and tourism, and Formula 1 has been held at Sakhir since 2004.

Culture in Bahrain: Language, Religion, Festivals and Etiquette

Culture in Bahrain blends Arab, Islamic and Gulf maritime traditions. Arabic is the official language, Islam is the state religion, and the working week runs Sunday to Thursday. Pearling, fishing and trade shaped customs such as coffee hospitality, sea songs and family gatherings, and many survive alongside a modern business culture.

Language

People speak a Gulf dialect of Arabic in daily life, while newspapers and official documents use Modern Standard Arabic. English is common in hotels, shops and signs. Many residents also speak languages from South and Southeast Asia.

Religion

Both Sunni and Shia Muslims live in Bahrain. Churches, a Hindu temple and other places of worship also serve smaller communities. The call to prayer sounds five times a day, and some shops pause briefly at prayer times.

Festivals

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the main public holidays, and Ramadan changes the rhythm of the whole country. Many Shia communities mark Ashura during the month of Muharram with processions and gatherings. National Day is on 16 December. Islamic dates move about eleven days earlier each year, so check the best time to visit Bahrain guide before you pick dates.

Etiquette

Dress modestly at mosques and traditional areas, and ask before photographing people, especially women. Use your right hand to give or take food and coffee. The UK FCDO notes that offensive language and rude gestures can lead to serious penalties, so keep your behavior calm in public.

Music and Arts

Fidjeri is the song tradition of the pearl divers, and sawt is a Gulf style that is also performed in Bahrain. Local crafts include A’ali pottery and Bani Jamra textile weaving. Many men wear a thobe and ghutra, and many women wear an abaya, though Western clothes are common too.

Bahraini Food: Staples, Signature Dishes, Drinks and Desserts

Bahraini food is built on rice, fish, dates, spices and bread, with influences from the wider Gulf, Persia, India and the Levant. Machboos, a spiced rice dish with meat or fish, is the best-known meal. Halwa and Arabic coffee, usually served with dates, are the classic way to end a visit.

Staples

Rice, flatbread, fish, lamb, chicken and dates appear at most tables. Cooks use cardamom, saffron, turmeric and dried lime for depth. Coastal communities leaned on fish and seafood, while Persian, Indian and Levantine influences show in the spice blends and bakeries.

Signature Dishes

• Machboos: rice cooked with meat or fish, tomato, dried lime and spices.
• Muhammar: sweet rice made with dates or sugar, often served with fried fish.
• Harees: wheat and meat cooked slowly into a thick porridge, popular in Ramadan.
• Ghuzi: whole roast lamb on spiced rice, served at celebrations.
• Sayadiyah: fish on rice colored with caramelized onions.
• Mashwi: grilled fish served with rice or bread.
• Balaleet: sweet vermicelli topped with a thin omelet, eaten at breakfast.
• Thareed: bread soaked in a meat and vegetable stew.
• Samboosa: fried pastry triangles with meat or cheese, common in Ramadan.

Street Food

Shawarma and falafel wraps are everyday street food, and many bakeries sell flatbread fresh from the oven. The souq area in Manama and the old streets of Muharraq are good places to look for small cafes. Our Bahrain itineraries suggest where to fit meals around the sights.

Drinks

Arabic coffee, or gahwa, is lightly roasted, flavored with cardamom and poured in small cups. Karak is a strong spiced milk tea, and laban is a salted yogurt drink. Fresh juice stands are common in the hot months.

Desserts

Bahraini halwa is a soft, chewy sweet made from starch, sugar, ghee, nuts and spices, and it is often given as a gift. Khanfroush is a cardamom-scented fried fritter. Dates are served with coffee at almost every welcome.