The Kingdom of Bahrain was called the land of the living by the first civilization on earth. It is a place of culture, tradition, and a history that goes back to the mists of time. It was part of Dilmun, an ancient independent kingdom that flourished circa 2,000 BC, but now it’s Bahrain.
The kingdom’s history and culture include the civilizations of Babylon, Mesopotamia (the ancient Greek name for the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers), Rome, Persia, Dilmun, and the Arabs. The inhabitants of these civilizations left behind settlements and temples and tens of thousands of burial mounds, which still mark the landscape. Many say that Bahrain today is the cultural capital of the world.
The word “bahrain” is Arabic for two waters, and the waters surrounding the islands are unique. Fresh water bubbles up from underground springs straight into the sea, and this phenomenon fed ancient legends about a magical island that gave Bahrain its name, its sea-based culture, and tradition. Bahrain is known as the island of 1 million palm trees and was the first Arab country to discover oil in 1932. It is a must-visit for those who love history, exploring, luxury, and, of course, fun in the sun.
The museums of Bahrain are wonders of modern architecture, with elegant buildings that reflect the designs of ancient Dilmun as well as the glory of Islam. The Bahrain National Museum features a series of exhibition halls that take you on a journey through time, from 3,000 BC to the present day, via artifacts.
The drive to Dar Al-Naft Oil Museum, south of Jebel Al-Dukhan, is a learning process, as you pass by oil fields dotted with oil pumps and crisscrossed by rusty pipes and some oil wells. The museum was built on the 60th anniversary of discovering oil in Bahrain and takes you to a journey back in time to the process of finding oil though photographs, facts, and figures.
Bait Al-Qur’an Museum is housed in a spectacular Arabic script-engraved building. It showcases a significant collection of Qur’anic manuscripts and scriptures dating back to the seventh century. Many copies of Qur’an, you will see, are worlds of arts in themselves. Some miniature copies can fit in the palm of the hand, and Qur’anic verses have been inscribed on a grain of rice. In addition to its important historical collection, Bait Al-Qur’an exhibition space often hosts various art exhibitions while housing a small mosque, distinguished library, and learning environment for Islamic teaching.
The Bahrain Islands are dotted with ancient forts built by different civilizations and empires. The Arad Fort — situated at the water’s edge in Muharraq, which was in the past the site for some fierce battles, most notably between Oman and Bahrain — was built on the site of an existing Portuguese fort by Oman’s ruler Sultan bin Ahmed after his invasion and capture of Bahrain in 1800.
The oldest visible fort on the island is Qala’at Al-Bahrain, or Bahrain Fort, which was built in several phases between the 15th and 17th centuries. The last phase dates to the Portuguese occupation in 1521, who bolstered the fort and rebuilt it. Today, it has been restored to its former grandeur, with turrets, courtyards, secret passages, and ramparts making it a must-visit even without considering the history behind it.
The elegant Bahrain Mosques are among the precious beauties of this country. The Al-Khamis Mosque, whose foundations were laid at the end of the eighth century, is one of the world’s most ancient mosques. It is located in one of the oldest Islamic communities in Bahrain known as Balad Al-Qadim, Arabic for old country.
Al-Fateh Grand Mosque is one of the largest mosques in the world. It offers reasonably priced programs to help people understand Islam, Hadith, and Qur’an. The mosque can take over 7,000 people at a time, and visitors and tourists are allowed inside for tours during the day when prayers are not taking place.
Ancient burial mounds dot the landscape as far as the eye can see; they add a unique taste to Bahrain. Most of these mounds are empty chambers, while others are filled with burials and artifacts. Some of them date back to the time of the great hero Gilgamesh, who traveled to Dilmun searching for immortality. The epic of Gilgamesh is one of the first poems written down, describing the king diving into the sea in search of a magical piece. It is believed that this 5,000-year-old story describes the search for one of Bahrain’s most prized treasures: pearls.
Authentic shopping can be experienced in Manama and Muharraq, as both cities offer the old and local as well as international brands and merchandise. If you wish to shop at the traditional souks of Bahrain, go nowhere but Manama and Muharraq old souks.
Manama souk is one of the oldest souks that is still active as a day-to-day shopping hub and also features a couple of workshops. It offers Persian silk carpets, furniture, classic Bahraini perfumes, souvenirs, traditional Bahraini clothing, handmade home accessories, fabrics, tailors, and of course authentic food restaurants and coffee shops.
Capital Mall is the heart of Bahraini art craft. It was built to help those with special skills in making traditional clothing, baskets, dolls, small ships, and home accessories. You will find the designers and crafters sewing and working in front of you, willing to explain the process in making the product.
Bahrain is also a hub for fashionistas who are looking for international brands. For he best shopping experience, visit Moda Mall located at the World Trade Center. A-listed designer boutiques such as Hermez, Dior, Burberry, Versace, and Louis Vuitton can be found here. Have a quick lunch at Maki, the excellent Japanese restaurant there.
Bahrain is known for its high-quality gold. If you want to shop for gold, hit the Bahrain gold souk for the best shopping experience. Most jewelry sold there carry inside the stamp and flag of Bahrain as a reminder for visitors to the beautiful city. You can choose your favorite gems or pearls and have the jewelers design an exclusive piece for you.
For those who are looking for the unique and luxury scent of the Gulf region, which we call “oud” and “bakhour” — these can be found in Bahrain’s oldest and largest perfume houses Syed Junaid and Asgharali. There are also shops that specialize in pure oils, such as Kingdom of Perfumes in Manama souk.
Bahrain was once the greenest island in the Gulf thanks to the freshwater springs that not only fed thousands of naturally emerging palm trees, but were also trapped by artesian wells and redirected via clay channel to irrigate farms.
Al-Areen Wildlife Reserve offers you a rare glimpse of the graceful Arabian oryx, a species of antelope threatened with extinction, but here it is wondering freely and happily in its natural habitat.
Given the reasonable oil prices, it is not surprising that cars have totally outnumbered camels in Bahrain. The Janabiya Camel Farm was established by the king’s late uncle, Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al-Khalifa, to preserve the camels’ presence. It houses more than 400 camels between male, female and baby camels, the latter looking like oversized stuffed camels who are more than happy to be cuddled.
The King Fahd Causeway is 25 km long connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, and around 49,000 passengers cross the bridge each day. Along the way, you will find a border station, two coastguard towers, and two mosques.
Formula 1 is a must-see even if you are not a motor race fan. You will be caught up in the thrill of the planet’s biggest race event during its season. When Formula 1 Grand Prix is not taking center stage at the Bahrain International Circuit, you can take the wheel yourself on its state-of-the-art karting track, or enjoy an exciting ride in the passenger seat of a Hummer on its extreme 4x4 course.
Don’t miss out on eating in Bahrain’s finest restaurants, or even its small restaurants that offer authentic Bahraini cuisine. Fishing has always been the center of life in Bahrain: Fishermen take their boats every morning and head to the sea. When they come back, they head straight to the fish market to sell their catch of the day before lunchtime, which is the main meal of the day.
Bahraini fish and shrimps are usually served with white or golden-brown Muammar rice, sweetened with date syrup or what we call “debs”. Bahrainis say this dish has always been a source of energy and sustenance for pearl divers on long trips.
The Machbous is a more famous dish among the Gulf region, and every country has its own developed style and flavor in cooking it. This dish is composed of spicy rice mixed with fish, meat or chicken and served with spicy chili and tomato sauce on the side. Make sure to try one of those authentic Bahraini dishes at Baba Taher in Manama souk close to Bab Al-Bahrain.
You can also pass by Al-Maseela, aka Haji’s café, located in Manama souk next to the Gulf Pearl Hotel for an amazing Bahraini breakfast served outdoors in a narrow alley. You will find there many Bahrainis eating their famous scrambled eggs and enjoying local tea.
For more upscale restaurants, head to Adliya in north Bahrain, as it is known as the country’s best dining destination. It offers a great number of luxurious outdoor and indoor restaurants.
Bahrain is also famous for its Bahraini Halwa, a jelly-style sweet made with water, sugar, oil and cornstarch mixed together in a special metal pot and then placed on a fire until the mix gets solid and sticky. After cooling down, cardamom, saffron, rosewater and mixed nuts are added on top. Head to Shuwaiter Sweets, try it, and you will love it. It is one of those “Must-bring-some-back-to-my-family-and-friends sweets”.
From Dilmun to Bahrain: ancient & modern side by side
From Dilmun to Bahrain: ancient & modern side by side
