Tourism in Bahrain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bahrain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East with over two million tourists a year. Most of the visitors are from Arab states of the Persian Gulf but there is an increasing number of tourists from outside the region thanks to an awareness of the Kingdom’s rich heritage. The Bahrain Grand Prix is an important annual event.
The Lonely Planet guide describes Bahrain as "an excellent introduction to the Gulf"[1] because of its Arab heritage and reputation as relatively liberal and modern. The Kingdom combines Arab culture, contemporary gulf glitz and the archaeological legacy of five thousand years of civilisation. The ancient civilisation of Dilmun, which dominated trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilization, was centred in Bahrain. The inhabitants of Dilmun left behind settlements and temples and tens of thousands of burial mounds which dot the landscape.
MP Adel Al-Mouwdah criticised the sale of alcohol in hotels and restaurants, saying that the 'poison' was attracting 'the wrong type of tourist' from Saudi Arabia where alcohol is banned.
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[edit] Forts
Dilmun prospered because it had fresh water, and it is this resource which has meant that Bahrain has long fought over by regional powers in a predominantly arid region. As a result, the island is home to many castles including the impressive Bahrain Fort.
[edit] Arad Fort
Arad Fort is located on Muharraq Island in the town of Arad. It is initially built by Arabs towards the end of the 16th century. The fort was captured by the Portuguese around 1559 and changed hands again in 1635 after being captured by Omanis.
[edit] Bahrain Fort
Bahrain Fort is also known as the Portuguese Fort, it is located nearby Karranah, a small village on the northern coast of Bahrain Island. The fort has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Archaeologists have also discovered seven distinct foundations, which have been dated to 2500 BC.
[edit] Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort
Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort or Riffa Fort is located in Riffa. This 19th century fort was built for its strategic location, on an escarpment overlooking the Hunanaiya valley.
[edit] Islands
- Al Dar Islands: nearest island getaway in Bahrain
- Hawar Islands: a group of islands situated off the west coast of Qatar in the Gulf of Bahrain
- Durrat Al Bahrain: a land-reclamation development similar to Dubai's Palm Islands
[edit] Malls
- DANA MALL
- SITRA MALL
- LULU MALL
- City Center*
- Seef Mall*
- Bahrain Mall*
[edit] Museums
[edit] Beit Al Quran
Beit Al Quran, 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, one of the well-known and busy parts of the capital, Manama.
[edit] Bahrain National Museum
The Bahrain National Museum has a collection of artifacts from the Kingdom's history dating back to the island's first human inhabitation 9000 years ago.
[edit] Oil Museum
It is located nearby Jabal Ad Dukhan. It was built to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the momentous first discovery of oil in the Persian Gulf, it exhibits old photographs, drilling equipment and a working model of an oil rig.
[edit] Currency Museum
[edit] Tourism Developments
The government of Bahrain has encouraged tourism development and contributes to large-scale tourism projects. It opened the only Formula One race track in the Middle East in 2004, and has awarded tenders for tourist complexes.
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Amwaj Islands
Work is now completed on the Amwaj Islands project, a group of man-made islands less than two kilometres off the coast of Muharraq (North), which promises to offer a combination of residential neighbourhoods, commercial districts and resorts.
The 2.8 million-square-metre Amwaj Islands will include the following components:
• Amwaj Plaza-1: a 10-storey residential tower;
• Al Marsa: ready-built canal-front villas;
• Zawaya: houses perched over the water’s edge;
• Zawye: dual residential buildings opposite to the commercial district;
• Amwaj Gateway: apartments at the doorstep of the project (developed by RealCapita);
• Saraya Al Bahar: Designer villas on common or private beach;
• Tala Island: Town-houses, villas and apartments in a gated neighbourhood setting, overlooking the Amwaj lagoon;
• Meena 7 Towers: apartments on the seafront in the heart of the Al Marsa village;
• Al Fanar Resort: hotel and recreational area to the west of the islands, which includes a 100-berth marina and retail centre. The first four-plus star beach hotel will have 300 rooms and a banquet hall; JAL Hotels and Marriott hotels have signed up for the development of this area.
• The Lagoon: in the heart of Amwaj's commercial district, a 1 KM strip mall surrounding the central sea water lagoon.
Amwaj Plaza and Marsa Floating City are other elements within the project.
The commercial heart of the islands is centered on a lagoon, work on the wall of which is nearing completion. The area will accommodate a landscaped promenade that will offer panoramic views across the lagoon, which will be ringed by waterfront cafes and restaurants.
Design work is also under way on a marina.
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.
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 know 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 opposite to Pizza Hut which provides online jewellery sales to those who cannot visit the Island.
[edit] Lost Paradise of Dilmun
The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park is 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.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Bahrain Travel Information at Lonely Planet Destination Guide
