Travel Alert Status
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Time Difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Travel Climate
Bahrain, with a desert climate, is one of the world's hottest areas. Its hottest and most humid weather is from June through September with temperatures over 110°F most days. The weather is pleasant from November through May (55°-85°F) with infrequent rainfall. The combination of poor soil drainage and few storm sewers can result in muddy city streets and puddles.
A narrow strip of land along the northern and northwestern coasts of Bahrain Island is cultivated with date palms, alfalfa, and vegetables. These garden areas are rapidly disappearing due to depleted water resources and development. A desert, punctuated by a north-south plateau, extends south of the cultivated area. Surrounding this plateau is a rolling basin surrounded by overhanging bluffs sloping into the sea. The ground is hard and infertile with a gravel surface until the spring when a pale, soft green covering appears in the desert following the winter rains. It provides a welcome contrast to the summer's aridity.
The highest point in Bahrain is the Jebel Dukhan, 134 meters above sea level. The majority of Bahrain's oil wells are in this area. The Arabian Gulf has an average depth of only 35 meters but is much shallower in the vicinity of Bahrain.
Travel Currency
.376
Languages
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Ethnic Groups
Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
National Holiday
National Day, 16 December (1971)
note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection
Geographic Coordinates
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Location
The Middle East, an archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Airports
4