General Information on the Kingdom of Bahrain
In spite of its small size, Bahrain holds a strategic position in the region. While it was the first Gulf state to discover and extract oil in 1932, it has quickly moved to diversify its economy by becoming a leader not only in petroleum processing and refining but also through the development of the regions pre-eminent financial centre.
The kingdom has also been a beacon for economic and political reform. The King, his majesty, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has implemented broadbased initiatives since ascending to the throne in 1999. in February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter- the centerpiece of the kings political liberalization programme- that gained the overwhelming support of the nation and paved the way, in October 2002, for parliamentary election. These elections allowed for the establishment of a freely elected lower house and the re-establishment of Bahrain 's bicameral legislature.
Getting to Bahrain is easy using the Bahrain International Airport , which is at the centre of commercial aviation in the Gulf region. A number of international airlines, including cargo carriers and charter flights operators, have chosen Bahrain as their regional hub due to the wider market access the gateway can provide to destinations in and beyond the region. All major destinations in Europe can be reached within 5 to 6 hours, the far east destinations like Kuala Lumpur or Singapore within approximately 7 hours and the flying time to other Middle East destinations takes from about 3 hours to Cairo , to only 1 hour to Dubai , Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
The Bahrain - Saudi Causeway is another possibility of getting to Bahrain and has made the 20 million strong market of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia directly accessible by road. A second causeway linking Bahrain with Qatar is scheduled for completion by 2005.
Getting around in Bahrain itself is easy and convenient. 45 minutes is the maximum it should take to get from one point to another, and in the city 10-20 minutes depending on traffic. Bahrain International Circuit is just 30 minutes drive from the airport and Manama city center.
In terms of its economy, Bahrain is consistently ranked as the most free economy in the Middle East and the Arab world by the Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom. For this reason, the Kingdom of Bahrain is the Middle East venue of choice for international investors including HSBC, IBM, UPS and Ericsson. International corporations also choose Bahrain as their regional base, notably, Citicorp, American Express, Nomura Investment Banking, Arab Banking Corporation, Gulf International Bank, DHL and Investcorp.
A globally-oriented country with a distinctly local flavor, Bahrain has consistently been a leading economic, political and social ground breaker in the region, with an international standard infrastructure and unique geographical location that accesses the major western and eastern hemisphere capitals within a short time. The undisputed financial centre of the Arabian Gulf region, now moving towards becoming the region's knowledge-based services hub, Bahrain 's progressive outlook and international perspective are reflected in its social and economic diversity. Bahrain offers a relaxed lifestyle where personal freedoms are respected and crime rates are amongst the world's lowest.
Bahrain hotels offers a wide range, from well-known five star chains to budget. The choice is yours. The diversity of cultures, lifestyle, entertainment and the accommodation attracts almost 4 million visitors annually. All major hotel chains are represented , meeting the highest international standards. A number of multi- million dollar tourist developments are currently underway, which will assure Bahrain more than 15,000 hotel rooms within the next years.
Entertainment and nightlife facilities offer an extensive variety of choice. First class restaurants of international cuisine and fine wine, in addition to traditional Arabic food are available. Excellent nightclubs and discos are plentiful, both western and Arabic style and liquor is available in most entertainment spots. Last but not least, the different shopping possibilities like, the great Souq – a traditional Arab market offering gold, carpets and electrical goods as well as sophisticated, modern shopping malls.
Things to see and things to do are plentiful in Bahrain . In addition to an 18 hole Par 72 PGA championship golf course, there are numerous historical and cultural sites such as the national museum taking you from 3000BC to modern day Bahrain, the restored Bahrain Fort, the typically Arab style Arad Fort and traditional houses. Bahrain is also among the most accessible Arab nations for visitors, especially those who want to find out more about the Islamic religion. A visit to Beit Al Qur'an (House of the Qur'an) and the Grand Mosque are wonderfully informative and uplifting experiences.
Arabic is the national language of Bahrain , although English is widely spoken and is commonly used in business. The official religion is Islam, but in this tolerant, friendly country, other religions practice freely in their own places of worship. The time difference is GMT +3 hours and the currency is Bahraini Dinar, which is pegged to the US Dollar at BD 1 = US$ 2.65.
Daily average costs of living in Bahrain are moderate and you can estimate with about 60 US Dollars a day including accommodation and food.
Meals
* Budget: US$5-7
* Mid-range: US$7-10
* Top-end: US$10 and upwards
Lodging
* Budget: US$5-20
* Mid-range: US$20-80
* Top-end: US$80 and upwards
If you want to travel comfortably, rent a car and load up on artifacts, expect to spend around US$150-200 or more per day. Taking the bus and bargaining will bring your costs down closer to US$50-100 a day. If you walk a lot and have no huge appetite for food or drink, it's possible to get by on around US$25 a day.
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