Key areas
Bab Al Bahrain This is called the Gateway to Bahrain, although senior residents will tell you that it was the shoreline not so many years ago. This area is called Manama and is literally the city centre. Most of the banks are here, including Amex, Standard Chartered, Citibank and the National Bank of Bahrain, which is housed in an impressive 25-storey building, You’ll also find money exchangers, travel agencies, electronics and appliance shops, and a string of small shops in what is generally called the souk area. Finding a parking space can be tough during business hours, though there are two parking areas apart from Bahrain Car Parking’s multi-storey complex which caters mostly to regular customers. Bahrain’s famous Gold Souk and Gold City, which house a number of well known jewellers, are here, and the Bahrain Financial Harbour is coming up very fast. Some of the budget hotels can also be found in and around this area. Manama post office is located directly opposite the Bab al Bahrain gate, if you need to send a postcard.
Diplomatic Area The Bahrain Monetary Agency, Commerce Ministry, Ministry of Justice, law courts and some of the major off-shore banks like Investcorp, Taib Bank and Arab Banking Corporation are located in this area. As the name suggests, several countries have their embassies here as well. During business hours the streets are jam-packed, but at night it’s completely deserted. Crowne Plaza Hotel and Diplomat Radisson Hotel are located in this area.
Seef has been seeing the best of developments in Bahrain for the past few years. It has the hottest properties and, with the recent opening of two new flyover bridges, driving through this area has become a pleasure. It houses the tallest building in Bahrain, the 45-odd-storey Almoayyed Towers, and two major shopping malls, the Seef Mall and the Al Aali Mall. One of the finest hotels, the Ritz-Carlton, has an imposing presence in the area. The Bahrain International Exhibition Centre and Dana Mall and the Bahrain Mall are on the opposite side of the main highway.
Adliya and Umm al Hassam A busy area, populated with some of the best places to eat in Bahrain. But if you drive a little way inside, you’ll find a neat residential neighbourhood. Nights are busier, with youngsters showing off their two-wheelers—if you care to watch a motocross for free, you know where to go. Juffair Another reclaimed area, fast developing into a region of luxury residences. Bahrain’s famous Grand Mosque towers majestically and the new Sheikh Isa Public Library is nearing completion. There is also a US military base located in Juffair.
Shopping
Although there have been a number of major developments in Bahrain, Bab Al Bahrain has clung to its traditional Arabic roots, which makes it a good place to start shopping. The Spices Souk and Cloth Souk are worth visiting, and the Gold Souk, which houses a number of small and large jewellers, is a feast for the eyes. Bahrain has traditionally been famous for its pearls and the gold here is considered to be some of the finest in the Gulf because of the government’s stringent quality-control measures. Gold is sold in 18 to 24 karat qualities. If you’re buying jewellery, always look for the hallmark stamp. The price of gold itself is fixed, but jewellers make their money on the manufacturing charges, so there is room for negotiation.people, even though that is just one of the stores there. Geant is probably the largest department store in Bahrain and, for those who have seen the City Centre in Dubai, it will look spookily familiar. You can spend hours in this shop, which offers pretty much anything you can think of buying, from computer hardware to indoor plants. However, you may get stuck in the slow-moving queues at the cashiers. Other outlets include opticians, fashion stores, money exchangers, a food court and a post office that is open until 10pm— probably the only one in the country.
A little further down the road from Bahrain Mall is Dana Mall. It also has a large department store called Giant Stores, as well as a cinema complex and a number of cafés. There is a large food court and an indoor theme park for children called Chakazoolo.
Not many years ago, Yateem Centre was the only Mall in Bahrain. It has a variety of shops and is a good place to pick up some small gift items too. There is a parking facility in the basement where parking is free if you buy any item from the mall worth at least BD 2 (about £3). Otherwise you have to pay 700 fils (£1).
Things to do
The Beit Al Quran Museum is dedicated to the holy Koran and works of art originating from it, and is a must-see while you’re in Bahrain. Located conveniently near the Diplomatic Area, it is built in distinctive Islamic architecture, with walls beautifully decorated by Arabic calligraphers. The five exhibition halls contain an awesome collection of different copies of the holy Koran. The Beit Al Quran complex comprises a mosque, a library, an auditorium, a school and the museum. Visitors of all faiths are welcomed.
If you would like to know a little more about what makes Bahrain tick, then a trip to the National Museum (Tel: 1729 2977) is essential. Situated on the intersection of the Muharraq Causeway and King Faisal Highway, it houses an extensive range of exhibits, from contemporary Bahraini paintings, sculptures and ceramics to scenes depicting life in the Dilmun civilization of 6,000 years ago—even a reconstructed burial mound, complete with skeleton! The section on Arabic calligraphy, including a beautiful display of illuminated Korans and other religious documents, is breathtaking.
And no visit would be complete without a closer look at the traditional trades and crafts that have been cleverly displayed in a reconstruction of a typical souk of the 1930s. There are also photographs and models of pearling expeditions and artefacts relating to the former source of Bahrain wealth before the advent of oil. Many more exhibits add up to a deeper understanding of the fascinating history of the 33 islands that make up this Kingdom. The museum opening hours are: Saturday-Sunday and Tuesday 8am-2pm, Wednesday-Thursday 8am-2pm and 4pm-8pm, Friday 3pm-9pm, closed Mondays.
Excursions
As its name suggests, Oil Well No. 1 was the very first oil well in the Gulf. After ‘spurting’ on 16th October 1931, the well
Seef Mall, a popular destination for many shoppers, is a sprawling complex with many well-known international names represented. You’ll find Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and many more. There are finally began to blow heads of oil on the morning of 2nd June 1932. It is situated below Jebel Dukhan, the Mountain of Smoke, which, at a height of 134 metres, is the highest point of the island. Its name comes from the misty haze that frequently surrounds it on a hot and humid day. Situated near Oil Well No. 1, the Oil Museum was inaugurated on the 2nd
June 1992 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the discovery of oil in Bahrain, the first country in the Middle East to do so. It houses some fascinating exhibits, including drilling equipment, documents, old photographs and a working model of an oil rig.
For a casual onlooker, the Tree of Life may not be a great sight but, standing alone in the desert about 2kms from the Jebel Dukhan, this flourishing, mystic tree provides welcome shade from the heat of the day. But its source of water remains a mystery to this day.
Al Areen Wildlife Park & Reserve (Tel: 631 826) was established in 1975 with a view to creating an environment for the protection and breeding of endangered species, while simultaneously attracting the interest of the public. It has since become the leading organisation of its kind in the Middle East. Situated 5kms southwest of Jabal Al Dukhan and 2kms from the Zallaq shoreline, the eight-square-kilometre enclosure is planted with over 100,000 plants and trees, and more than 500 animals are either roaming free or in pens. Arabian species include the Arabian oryx (which is virtually extinct in the wild), addax, scimitar-horned oryx, dama gazelle, Nubian ibex, wild goat, Asiatic onager and barbary sheep. A bus tour runs from the main entrance, and this is the best way to see the animals in their natural habitat. Near the administrative building there is a walkway, from which various birds and animals can be seen, and also a cafeteria. Open daily 8am-11am and 1pm-4.30pm
Tourist traps
The law states that taxis may only be driven by local Bahraini’s. Most of the taxis have seen better days and you need to be a little wary about the fares. Usually the drivers try to fix a rate before starting the trip, which is actually illegal. Although drivers can impress you with their command of English, some will ask for exorbitant rates. There are meters in the taxis, but they are mostly unused, especially if you look like a tourist. At night, between 10pm and 6am, taxi fares are BD 1.200 (£1.80) for the first kilometre and 150 fils (23p) for every additional kilometre thereafter. There is an additional charge of BD 1.000 (£1.50) if you are hiring a taxi from the airport. Your best bet for getting about is to use Call Taxis (Tel: 1768 2999) or Bahrain Limo (Tel: 8000 1999). The latter do charge more than a normal taxi, but they are much less hassle.
Bahrain is quite liberal in that non-Muslims are allowed to buy alcohol freely and can drink in restaurants and bars. But don’t ever attempt to drive after a drink while you’re in Bahrain. If you get caught you could find yourself with a fine of upwards of £750 and a stretch in prison.
Convention centres
Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Building 158, Avenue 28, Sanabis 410, Tel: 1755 8800, Fax: 1755 3447/1755 8829, email: biec@bahrainexhibitions. com. BIEC houses the largest convention centres in Bahrain, the Middle East’s favoured destination for conventions and exhibitions because of its easy for the business traveller, lack of bureaucratic complications, well-established business infrastructure and the one-stop shop approach to the whole region.
Gulf International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Banquets Office, Gulf Hotel, Tel: 1772 6159, Fax: 1772 6129, email: banquet@gulfhotelbahrain.com. This large conference and banqueting facility is conveniently located within the grounds of the five-star Gulf Hotel, five minutes away from the Manama city centre and 10 minutes away from Bahrain International Airport. The Centre is professionally managed offering excellent facilities and resource support.
Bahrain Conference Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Tel: 1753 1122, Fax: 1753 0154, email: crowneplaza@batelco.com. bh, website: www.crowneplaza-bahrain. com. The Bahrain Conference Centre is a large, purpose-built facility adjoining the recently renovated Crowne Plaza in Manama’s Diplomatic Area. With its own integral kitchen facilities and car park, it can cater a banquet for 1,200 guests. The main banquet hall can be subdivided with sound-proof partitioning into four rooms and there are three luxury board rooms and four smaller meeting rooms available. Conference centre The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa, Tel: 175 80000, Fax: 1758 0333, email: info@ritzcarlton. com.bh, website: www.ritzcarlton.com. The Conference Centre is integrated with the main hotel. The Al Noor Conference Hall has discreet, classical dignity uninterrupted by pillars. Features include TV lighting and an exclusive front entrance, the lobby of which can accommodate a small exhibition. The hall can be set theatre-style for 750 or classroom style for 600. The Centre also includes the Al Ghazal Ballroom, a stately room which can be subdivided into four halls providing a variety of arrangements from banquets, buffets, conferences and receptions. The library and two boardrooms provide elegant wood panelled settings for executive meetings.