Bahrain

Description — Bahrain

In ancient times, Bahrain was called the “Island of a Thousand Palms.” Translated from Arabic, “Bahrain” means “two seas.” It is the only island Arab archipelago. It includes 33 islands. Located in the middle part of the Persian Gulf, between the Qatar peninsula and the coast of Saudi Arabia, with which the island of Bahrain is connected by a 25-kilometer causeway. Many of the islands are occupied by deserts and are therefore uninhabited.

For many centuries, the main occupation of the people of Bahrain was pearl diving. The foundation of the modern Bahraini economy is the extraction and processing of oil, mainly from Saudi Arabia. Bahrain itself has relatively small oil reserves, and oil is delivered via pipelines from Saudi Arabia to the Al-Khalidzh oil refinery with an annual capacity of 14 million tons, which provides Bahrain with up to 70% of government treasury revenues.

The main advantage of Bahrain is the bright sun for 360 days a year and warm, clean sea water. Almost the entire coastline is one giant beach, being intensively developed with resort complexes. Tourism development in the country has been placed among state programs, so it is growing extremely fast. A very popular pastime is taking a car trip through the desert. A new, but already popular pastime is skiing on sand. You can also ride camels. Bahrain is rich in picturesque blooming oases.

One particularly exotic type of vacation is “live” shrimp and fish fishing, as well as sponge harvesting. For centuries, Bahrain was a major center for pearl fishing; today, numerous pearl farms and pearl auctions are open to visitors.

Sights

Among the capital’s sights:

- the “Portuguese fort” Qal’at al-Bahrain (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) with archaeological sites dating back to the 3rd-1st millennia BCE on its territory (this is where a major trading port of the ancient civilization of Dilmun was previously located),
- Al-Hamıs Mosque (presumably 625 CE or the 11th century CE-one of the oldest Islamic structures in the region),
- the Great Al-Fateh Mosque with its prayer hall for 7,000 worshippers (the largest religious building in the country),
the Bayt Al-Qur’an complex with a mosque, library, school, and museum, housing a unique collection of Qur’ans from all eras and ancient manuscripts,
- Al Jasra House-the birthplace of the reigning monarch,
- the Arad Arab Fort (16th century),
- the Sacred Heart Church.

In addition, you can also visit the Bahrain Exhibition Centre, the best hotel complex in Manama-Ritz-Carlton, as well as the magnificent market (“souq”) to the south of Government Avenue.

What to see

National Museum

Displays an enormous number of exhibitions, ranging from an excellent historical collection covering 7,000 years of Bahrain’s history-including items from the Dilmun and Tylos eras-and ending with the Islamic period.

Pearl Museum

Located in the building of the country’s first Supreme Court (1937), it is dedicated to Bahrain’s history and the ancient pearl trade that, for many centuries, provided local residents with their main source of livelihood-pearl diving.

Golden Souk

Offers an untold number of jewelry items, from products of well-known European houses to pearls and affordable gold jewelry from India and the Gulf countries.

West of Manama lies an archaeological complex of ancient temple structures. Within the complex, the ruins of two altars and a natural spring can still be found, which held mystical significance in the era of the Dilmun civilization. During excavations on the site, numerous tools, weapons, clay pottery, and small gold items were discovered, which are now displayed in the country’s National Museum.

Tree of Life

One of the modern Wonders of the World. A mystery surrounds the existence of this long-lived acacia tree variety. In spring and autumn, yellow flowers bloom on the tree, and in winter it sheds its leaves. The tree grows in the middle of the desert, with not a single water source nearby-it is a vivid example of how living nature adapts to the harshest external conditions. Where this plant gets its water from is still unclear. That is why it has long become a mystical symbol for local people, representing steadfastness of spirit and unwavering dedication to ideals.

Oil Museum

Located near the “Well No. 1,” it features fascinating exhibitions on the history of the country’s oil industry, many examples of equipment, documents, old photographs, and even a working model of an oil platform.

King Fahd Causeway

Spanning 25 km, it connects the island of Bahrain and the Saudi Arabian peninsula. It crosses the island of Umm an-Naasan, where there is a small nature reserve. And on the bridge itself, a colorful restaurant with a viewing deck draws attention.