06 January 2009 07:20 GMT
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About Bahrain
Tiny Bahrain is today one of the more laid-back and authentic places to visit in the Arabian Gulf. This island state, with a population of just 650,000, has a history dating back to ancient times and has undergone a demographic and economic explosion since the 1970s.
Bahrain’s trading traditions lie in seafaring and pearling, but it was also the first country in the region to discover and exploit oil. Revenues from black gold created enormous wealth in the 1970s and 1980s, allowing the island to modernise quickly and also develop its status as a regional financial centre, particularly for the banking sector.
The island also has an interesting demographic and religious complexion, with the ruling family belonging to the Sunni branch of Islam but the majority of the country’s population, according to estimates, being Shia Muslim. This has created political tensions throughout Bahrain’s history, and occasional protests or even riots still take place in certain areas of the capital city, Manama.
As with most other Gulf countries, though, more than half of Bahrain’s population is made up of expatriates, many of whom are manual labourers working in construction projects on the island. The official language is Arabic, although English is widely spoken and understood and you’re also likely to hear Urdu, Hindi and Tagalog being used on the island.
Tourism has developed in recent years, and although Bahrain doesn’t have the manic activity and PR buzz of Dubai, the island’s sleepy nature makes it a slightly more peaceful place to visit than its higher-profile neighbour in the region.
Some of the best attractions for the short-stay visitor are the cluster of restaurants and bars in Manama’s Adliya district, the selection of good museums and a handful of luxury beachside hotels whose facilities are also open to non-guests.
About the airport
The original hub of the Middle East, well-established long before the likes of Dubai came along, Bahrain International Airport is today busier than ever. In 2006 it served 6.7 million passengers – around ten times the island’s total population.
Gulf Air, which is now 100% owned by the Bahraini government, uses the airport as a hub, with a new budget airline called Bahrain Air launching flights in early 2008. Over a million Saudi Arabian travellers also use Bahrain airport every year, making the short road journey across the 26km-long King Fahd causeway.
There is only one terminal, which is used by all airlines and split over two levels. And for its size, Bahrain airport has a solid selection of things to keep the traveller occupied: an inviting top-floor bar and restaurant, a mini art gallery and plenty of duty-free shopping.
Transit passengers will also be glad to hear that the terminal is within 15 minutes of central Manama, the island’s capital, and within an even shorter distance of things to do on Muharraq Island, on which the airport is located.
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