Bahrain History
The projected $1 Billion Bahrain Financial Harbour development.
The Harbour district covers 380,000 square metres of prime Bahrain waterfront property, featuring high specification office space, luxury residential accommodation, retail hotel, leisure and entertainment.
By Middle Eastern standards, Bahrain is a relatively cosmopolitan country and perhaps because of its close ties with Britain over the years, is very tolerant of Western ethics and ideas.
Once part of the ancient civilization of Dilmun, Bahrain served as an important link in trade routes between Sumeria and the Indus Valley as long as 5,000 years ago. Since the late 18th century, Bahrain has been governed by the Al Khalifa family, which created close ties to Britain by signing the General Treaty of Peace in 1820.
After World War II, Bahrain became the center for British administration of treaty obligations in the lower Persian Gulf and this lasted for 25 years when in 1971 the country became fully independent and known as the State of Bahrain.
Given its relatively small oil resources, Bahrain has had to diversify and has hosted the main Gulf financial center since the late 1970’s. Many International Banks have their main Middle Eastern offices in Manama.
Winters are pleasant (15°C-24°C). Summers are very hot and humid (average temperature 36°C rising to 42°C in extremes).
Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit when many species of migratory birds are also passing through.
Bahrain Restaurant Guide
From fine dining to fast food takeaways, you can choose from a wide range of cuisines to suit your tastes. Hungry? Want to eat out? Celebrate? In Bahrain you’re spoilt for choice.
Cico’s Restaurant
Bahrain has won international acclaim by being selected as the Best Italian Restaurant 2005.
Excellent Italian food is served in an authentic setting. Situated in Adliya (behind the CID police station), +973 1771 3710. Open Sat-Thu lunch and dinner.
Al Abraaj
A popular local restaurant that specializes in Middle Eastern/Turkish/Iranian cuisine with several outlets on the island. +973 17590123
Upstairs Downstairs
International restaurant on the first floor and a lounge downstairs. Local jazz musicians perform nightly, and international guest stars regularly take the stage. +973 1771 3093
Monsoon
Set in an exquisite wooden pavilion surrounded by water in Adliya, Monsoon serves up Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian and Japanese dishes. On mild evenings, the candlelit terrace is the place to enjoy sushi, Thai fishcakes, satay or Vietnamese summer rolls, followed by a choice of fragrant south-east Asian mains. +973 17 749 222. Open Sat-Thu noon-2.30pm, 7pm-11pm; Fri 7pm-11pm
Bahrain Events
The Soukh
No Visit to Bahrain would be complete without a trip to the soukh, with its profusion of colors, sounds, and aromas.
All wares are sold, from cloth of colors and textures to gold and jewelry as well as the traditional array of spices and local produce. The Soukh in Manama is situated along the Bab el Bahrain.
Gold City Bahrain
Bahrain is very famous for its gold jewellery since the ages. A reminder of Aladdin & his magic lamp Gold from Bahrain is known for its purity and luster. Gold city located near Bab Al Bahrain boasts of an array of Jewellery shops spanning 2 floors. Gold city covers more than 100 jewellery stores which sell from diamonds & gemstones & natural pearls to Arabic perfumes & handicrafts. A must visit shop is Pinto Jewelers which provides online jewellery sales.
Bahrain Events Guide
Bahrain this month event calender visit http://www.bahrainthismonth.com/
Sakheer Race Course
A trip to Bahrain should coincide with a visit to the Sakheer Race Course. The state-of-the-art racetrack was built with English expertise and hosts regular race meetings. Despite gambling being illegal, the atmosphere is always electric. Entry is free of charge.Racing from the beginning of October to the end of March (Every Friday). Sakheer Race Course is located half an hour’s drive from Manama located in Sakheer on the outskirts of Hamad Town, between the town and the open desert.
Bahrain Art Society
Bahrain Arts Society and Bahraini fine arts for the 21st century. Details of art exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and other cultural events.
http://www.bahartsociety.org.bh/
Bahrain F1 Circuit
The home of motorsports in the Middle East.
Lost Paradise of Dilmun
Located next to Al Areen Wildlife Park within the Southern Governorate. It is Bahrain’s 1st fully themed water park, featuring 14 major water attractions and slides, a 325 m (1066 ft) long lazy river, spa pool, kids wet-play area and the biggest sandy beach wave pool in the GCC.
Property Developements/Investments
Resorts planned in Bahrain include the Al Areen Resort, Dannat Hawar, Durrat Al Bahrain, Amwaj Islands, Lulu Island, Riffa Views and Bahrain Bay which will be home to the Kingdom’s first Four Seasons Hotel.
Durrat Al Bahrain
The US$1 billion Durrat Al Bahrain is named after the most perfect pearl. The development will consist of residential and tourism elements and will cover a 20-kilometer stretch of reclaimed desert and sea. The project resembles a necklace and will consist of 13 islands – an arc of six atolls and five pearl-shaped islands; an island for a five-star resort and aqua park and a crescent-shaped island for a residential complex.
Spread over 20 square kilometers, the development will include 13 different islands with over 2,000 villas, more than 3,000 apartments, luxury hotels, restaurants, promenades, shopping centers, spas and a proposed golf course among its many sports facilities. A 400-boat marina set in a lagoon is also planned.
- Al Marsa Floating City
Al Marsa, which means ‘jetty’ or ‘harbour’ in Arabic is a floating island that is being built with an investment of US$70 million. On completion, the island will have 274 canal houses, a 150-room hotel, time-share apartments, retail mall, restaurants and a yacht club.
The artificial island, which is part of the Amwaj Islands project, will measure 28,000 square metres and is designed to have a series of canals where boats can cruise and even park beside their own back garden where the level of water is maintained within 50 centimetres ‘rise and fall’ by a sector-lock gate located at the south entrance of the island adjacent to the proposed Yacht Club.
- Tala Island
One of the components of the Amwaj Islands project, Tala Islands will encompass 136,000 square metres. The development, which costs US$110 million, will accommodate 48 beachfront villas, 42 two-storey, mid-size villas, as well as 410 apartments in 31 blocks (including 12 penthouses) and another 148 smaller apartments. The development will also include an aqua park, retail areas, a sports centre, tennis club and restaurants and coffee shops. http://www.tala-amwaj.com/
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