Country information for traveling to Bahrain

 

Bahrain is an Arab country and at the same time a monarchy. The kingdom consists of a total of 33 islands located in the Persian Gulf. In the neighborhood, there are two states that are very similar to the country: Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The similarity can be seen, for example, in the landscapes, but also in the culture of the inhabitants.

The country is rather flat, as the highest elevation is the 135-meter-high Dschabal ad-Duchan. The landscapes are more characterized by widespread sand dunes. There are also forests and salt marshes. To increase the relatively small land mass, Bahrain has started filling land. The new areas are intended for luxury construction projects.

The local flora and fauna are strongly influenced by the hostile desert environment. For this reason, very few species have settled here. These mainly include lizards and gerbils. There is a project to reintroduce the endangered gazelle, which is also native here. It is part of a wildlife park.

The Shadjarat al-Haya is the most famous plant in Bahrain. The approximately 400-year-old Khejri tree proves that life is possible even under the toughest conditions. No one knows the secret of the plant and the answer to how it finds enough water in the dry desert.

Although the desert landscapes give the impression of dry heat, the climate in Bahrain is rather humid. The hottest months are between May and October. Especially in July and August, temperatures above 30 degrees are more the rule than the exception. Meanwhile, it hardly rains from June to September. The best time to travel is between October and April. Even though it may rain lightly, temperatures are usually below 30 degrees.

Although the conditions for settlement may seem rather poor, there were people in the region many millennia ago. The land of Dilmun even brought forth its own culture on the islands. But they were conquered time and time again. The Kassites were succeeded by the Assyrians, and the Assyrians by the Persians. Subsequently, the Seleucids took over under Alexander the Great, then the Characene and later the Sassanids. After that, the Arabs and the Portuguese also claimed the islands.

After a period as a British protectorate, which protected the inhabitants from further aggression, the age of fossil fuels began. Present-day Bahrain has large oil reserves, leading to immense wealth. In 1971, the country finally became independent, and four years later the monarchy was declared. Since 2002, a parliament has also been convened once again.

The Arab Spring also had historical significance for Bahrain, although it did not have as intense an impact on the region as in other countries. Nevertheless, tensions between Shiites and Sunnis on the islands persist to this day. In 2020, Bahrain also became one of the first Arab countries to make peace with Israel.

Only 1.7 million people live in the kingdom, most of them in cities like Manama. Around a third have migrated as labor migrants. These people come from countries like India, Bangladesh, or Pakistan. The main religion is Islam, followed by Christianity and Hinduism. Most residents speak Arabic, but there are also English-speaking people.

In this country, you can shop well because there are several shopping centers with a wide range of products, some of which are also exclusive. Relevant are, among others, the Al 'Ali Mall, the Moda Mall, and the Seef Mall. But of course, you need money to shop.

On-site, you can pay with the Bahraini Dinar (BHD), which is the official currency of the country. One Dinar corresponds to 1,000 Fils. According to current exchange rates, one Dinar is also worth around 2.50 EUR. You can get money from ATMs, especially in larger cities like Manama.

As a German citizen, you can also pay in Euro or US Dollar. Therefore, you do not necessarily have to exchange money when you arrive at Bahrain's only airport. Furthermore, credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are accepted in many places, mainly in large stores, restaurants, and hotels. With these, you can not only pay but also withdraw money from ATMs.

Please note that credit cards are unfortunately not accepted everywhere. Nevertheless, it is very useful to carry a credit card with you, as it can sometimes be difficult to get cash. Furthermore, it cannot be guaranteed that traveler's checks will still be accepted in Bahraini stores.

As Bahrain is an Arab country, it is not surprising that tourists are asked to make slight adjustments in public. Skirts and shorts should be below the knee and both men and women should cover their shoulders. Please avoid transparent fabrics and overly revealing outfits. This also applies to swimwear. Revealing bikinis and swim trunks are rather frowned upon.

Otherwise, Bahrainis are quite tolerant and don't pay much attention to the looks of others when these rules are followed. If you want to buy new clothing in your holiday destination, perhaps even typical of the country, you will find a wide selection in numerous shops.

There are several thousand kilometers of roads, so you can reach many places with a rental car. The majority of the roads are even paved, allowing you to make quick progress in right-hand traffic. A rental car is highly recommended as a means of transportation in addition to taxis. However, you will need an international driver's license, with which you must apply for a local driver's license on-site.

Traffic safety in Bahrain is considered average to good. There are only about 7.3 traffic fatalities per 100,000 people per year. This puts the country in a better position than the USA, which has over eleven traffic fatalities per year. However, countries like Germany, Israel, or the leader Norway can show much lower values.

One of the most important traffic routes in the country is the King Fahd Causeway, which takes you directly over the sea to Saudi Arabia. A trip to the neighboring country can be worthwhile if you have a suitable visa. In the nearest city of Dammam, there is a beautiful bay and many recreational activities for families.

As an Arabic country, Arabic is mainly spoken in Bahrain. Arabic is also the official language of Bahrain. In addition, Persian is spoken on the islands, which originally comes from Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, as well as Urdu from India. If you do not speak any of these three languages, do not worry. Many people also speak some English, so with basic knowledge you can communicate to some extent.

For good communication, you can also use the services of an experienced tour guide who is ideally multilingual. In addition, there are now apps that can handle small translation tasks for you. You no longer have to type the desired sentences, but can simply speak them.

For those motivated enough, you can also learn some Arabic before your trip. There are various websites on the internet as well as apps and other tools available for this. If you want to take learning the new language seriously, you can also find Arabic courses in many German cities.

The power supply in Bahrain is relatively safe, which is also due to the fact that the country itself is a key player in the energy industry. It produces about 103 percent of its own needs and trades a portion of the generated electricity. Each Bahraini consumes an average of almost 15,000 kilowatt hours per year. For comparison: The electricity demand of a German is significantly lower at around 6,800 kilowatt hours. The high electricity consumption in Bahrain can be explained, among other things, by the numerous air conditioners.

The voltage in Bahrain's power grid is 230 volts, the frequency is 50 Hertz. These values are exactly the same as those of European power grids. Therefore, you can bring your electrical devices from Germany and use them on site without any concerns. You also do not need a voltage converter. Instead, you will likely need an appropriate adapter so that your plugs fit into Bahraini sockets.

Telephony, internet, and mobile communication are of interest to almost all people in Bahrain. On average, every Bahraini owns a mobile phone and has access to the internet. If you want to communicate with your smartphone during your trip, you should consider getting a prepaid SIM card for your stay. This will save you from unnecessary expensive roaming fees. Compare as many providers and their products and rates as possible.

At various locations, you can access free Wi-Fi. For example, this may be possible in a hotel where you are checked in. Otherwise, there is generally no free internet. However, you can pay fees to access Wi-Fi or the internet at some places.

If you want to receive medical treatment during your vacation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, you will find some doctors and hospitals that meet European standards. These are mainly located in the capital city of Manama. In many cases, the staff even speaks English, which facilitates communication.

Expect high bills for examinations and treatments. For this reason, it is mandatory to take out international health insurance with repatriation coverage when traveling to Bahrain.

Furthermore, it is advisable to carry a well-equipped travel pharmacy with you. This can often help with minor problems. Also, consider the humid hot climate before departure and what it means for you. Pack light clothing, a head covering, and enough sunscreen. In hot climates, medications can lose their effectiveness. Therefore, make sure to keep your medications cool.

The most important insurance for your vacation in Bahrain is the international health insurance with repatriation insurance. This covers the costs if you really get sick or injured. The risk of infection in Bahrain is manageable, but you may suddenly suffer from a gastrointestinal illness or have an accident.

The policy will help you quickly in these cases. To know exactly what to expect from your insurer beforehand, you should thoroughly check the product. This ensures that despite a successfully completed insurance, no additional costs will come your way.

Furthermore, you may benefit from a trip cancellation insurance. Something can always happen, causing a booked vacation to not be taken. In most cases, however, the trips do take place. Carefully consider whether you need this insurance. Other policies that you should consider at your leisure are:

• Rental car insurance
• Foreign protection for vehicles (if you arrive in your own car)
• Insurance for your valuables and electronic devices
• Baggage insurance

In Bahrain there are some risks that you should be aware of. Like in all countries, terrorist attacks can also occur in the kingdom, with different motivations. Sometimes there are also political demonstrations, which in most cases proceed quietly. Avoid such gatherings extensively.

There is relatively little crime in Bahrain, mainly consisting of thefts and robberies. Therefore, in crowds, you should take care of your valuables and only take a manageable amount of money with you.

Unfortunately, the rights of women and LGBTIQ individuals are not respected in the island state. If you travel alone as a woman, you should stay in your accommodation at night or go out only accompanied. Note that the current legal situation requires women to prove in case of a sexual assault that it was not a consensual act. They are usually blamed.

LGBTIQ does not receive positive feedback in Bahrain. However, those affected are not persecuted as long as they behave inconspicuously. Some things that are legal in Germany are punishable in Bahrain, such as prostitution or adultery.

In Bahrain, there are only two holidays that you probably also know from Germany: New Year's Day and Labor Day. In addition, there are many national holidays, some of which are days off work. These include Eid al-Fitr, the Feast of Sacrifice, and Ashura.

You want to see as much as possible of the Kingdom during your trip to Bahrain? There is actually a lot to see in this country waiting for you. This includes beautiful beaches, exciting race tracks, and extravagant shopping centers. For a successful holiday experience, we recommend a tour where you can experience several interesting places during your stay.

Such tours often also include other countries in the region, because Bahrain is a relatively small country. A typical tour also takes you to neighboring states such as Kuwait or Qatar. Please note that you also need a visa for these countries. If you need help with the applications, feel free to contact us! The staff at Buch-dein-Visum.de are highly knowledgeable and will provide you with the documents you need.

The cuisine of Bahrain is strongly influenced by Arabic flavors. This is already evident in the commonly used ingredients of typical dishes: In addition to rice and couscous, legumes, dates, eggplants, lamb, chicken, bread, and plenty of spices are served. Due to the proximity to the sea, there are also many delicious seafood and of course fish to discover.

The restaurants in your travel destination do not all serve the same food. There are also European, Turkish, and Asian restaurants, so you can enjoy a remarkable variety of dishes. You can also get burgers and pizza.

The food is mostly without pork and alcohol and is also halal. During the fasting month of Ramadan, you will not get alcohol. In the remaining months of the year, alcoholic beverages are only sold in certain restaurants, hotels, and clubs. Outside of these places, you should not drink alcohol as it is prohibited in Bahrain.