Discover the Beauty of Bahrain

Wednesday 11th, December 2013 / 18:41 Written by Oman Observer in Features

By Mai al Abria -

Bahrain is a generally flat and arid archipelago in the Arabian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia. It consists of a low desert plain rising gently to a low central escarpment with the highest point the 134m Mountain of Smoke (Jabal ad Dukhan).

Bahrain’s largest islands are Bahrain Island, Muharraq Island, Umm an Nasan, and Sitrah. Bahrain has mild winters and very hot, humid summers like the Sultanate of Oman. The country’s natural resources include large quantities of oil and natural gas as well as fish in the offshore waters.

A recent familiarisation trip for a group of journalists and travel agents from the Sultanate of Oman to the lovely country to enjoy its luxurious experience was organised by Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain with a reputation as a global leader in service, comfort, safety, and reliability.

Our stay was in Ritz-Carlton, situated at the heart of Seef District, overlooking the Arabian Gulf. The hotel offers 245 rooms, suits and the Ritz- Carlton club.
It took us only a few minutes since our arrival in Bahrain to view the hidden beauty of the country. We felt home as we first met the hospitable people of Bahrain who share the same culture, religion, kindness with the Omani people.Bahrain’s international profile was raised when the Qal’at al Bahrain (Bahrain Fort) Museum was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Qal’at al Bahrain is an ancient harbour and capital of Dilmun, one of Bahrain’s most important and distinguished archaeological site, with remains dating back from 2,500 BC. The site has been termed as Bahrain’s “most important site in antiquity”. The archaeological findings have revealed seven civilisations of urban structures beginning with Dilmun Empire, the most important ancient civilisation of the region. The display area of the museum consists of five exhibition halls; most important of all are the sepulcher hall and the hall that features the daily life in the past.

Bahrain — which means “two seas” — was once viewed by the ancient Sumerians as an island paradise to which the wise and the brave were taken to enjoy eternal life. A two-day visit to this country was so sufficient to let all feel the calmness of the Gulf countries and the hospitality of Arabs.
Ninty two per cent of Bahrain is desert with periodic droughts and dust storms the main natural hazards for Bahrainis.
Often described as an archipelago of islands Bahrain has a hundreds of kilometres of coastline.
Inhabited since ancient times, Bahrain occupies a strategic location in the Arabian Gulf. It is the best natural port between the mouth of the Tigris, Euphrates Rivers, a source of copper in ancient times. Bahrain may have been associated with the Dilmun civilisation, an important Bronze Age trade centre linking Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.

Since the late 20th century, Bahrain has sought to diversify its economy and become less dependent on oil by investing in the banking and tourism sectors. The country’s capital, Manama is home to many large financial structures, including the Bahrain World Trade Center and the Bahrain Financial Harbour. The Qal’at al Bahrain (the harbour and capital of the ancient land of Dilmun) and the Bahrain pearling trail were declared World Heritage Sites in 2005 and 2012 respectively. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Bahrain receives two million tourists a year. Most visitors are from Arab states but there are an increasing number of tourists from outside the region.
The Lonely Planet guide describes Bahrain as “an excellent introduction to the Gulf” because of its Arab heritage and the reputation that it used to enjoy as a safe and modern nation.
Tourists are attracted to Bahrain for the weather, unique ambience, diving and water sports, local culture and the relaxed friendly atmosphere. Bahrain also enjoys a liberal social climate, good shopping and minimal travel restrictions.
The Bahrain National Museum has a collection of artefacts from the Kingdom’s history dating back to the island’s first human inhabitation 9,000 years ago.
Beit Al Qur’an, one of the island’s most distinctive pieces of architecture, is home to a rare collection of Islamic manuscripts, prints and books. It is located in Hoora, part of the capital, Manama.
The Oil Museum is located near Jabal Ad Dukhan. It was built to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first discovery of oil in the Arabian Gulf, it exhibits old photographs, drilling equipment and a working model of an oil rig.