The ‘Tree of Life’ that grows in the country’s dry desert, without a source of water, describes Bahrain – “Full of surprises and contradictions.” The skyline in the city of Manama shows the old – having minarets and mosques, plus the stylish skyscrapers. A shopping journey to the Soukh market features various wares, such as luxurious fabrics, jewelry of many description, regional fashions, exotic spices from a locally-grown produce. For that sport lovers Bahrain provides thoroughbred horse racing, world-class golf programs, and lots of scuba diving sites. Another must-see tourist attractions are the Arad Fort, Al-Khamis Mosque, Bahrain (Portuguese) Fort, Muharraq Island, Royal Tombs, and the Oil Well No. 1 – known as the 1st oil well in this country and the whole Gulf Region.
Important and Interesting Facts about Bahrain
- Located in a gulf between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands.
- Bahrainis connected to mainland of Saudi Arabia by a 26 km long bridge called the King Fahd Causeway.
- It’s thought by some to be the Garden of Eden due to Eden’s supposed resemblance to the ancient land of Dilmun which many scholars accept to be the area encompassing Bahrain.
- A sizeable portion of the Bahrain land is reclaimed land that is made by filling the shallow coastlines or joining sand bars by sand or landfill.
- There is a famous Mesquite tree called “Tree of Life” which is 400 years old and stands alone in the desert of Bahrain. The fact that the water source of the tree is not known attracts huge number of visitors.
- Bahrain is known for its scorching summer where temperature can reach up to 45 degree Celsius and the apparent temperature along with humidity can be as high as 50 degree Celsius.
- Close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources, Bahrain is a strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western World’s petroleum must transit to reach open-ocean.
- Qal’at Al Bahrain or the Bahrain fort has been listed as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- Ever since it was declared a kingdom, Bahrain has been one of the fast developing nations and has been identified by the World Bank as a high income economy.
- Bahrain exports petroleum and petroleum products, textiles and aluminum. It imports chemical, machinery and crude oil. The natural resources mainly consist of natural gas, oil and fish stocks.
- TheBahrain Pearling Trail, in Muharraq, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a 3.5 km trail located in the island of Muharraq, in Bahrain, that was used by pearl divers during much of Bahrain’s history until the early 1930s, when the pearl market in Bahrain crashed as a result of the introduction of cultured pearls from Japan.
Cool, Funny, and Fun Facts about Bahrain
- Once Bahrain hoisted the largest national flag that stood 318 by 555 feet high. The record was broken by an Israeli Flag.
- The world’s largest simultaneous coin toss event was organized in the British School of Bahrain, by the Guinness Book of World Records.
- The Bahrain World Trade center is the world’s first high rise building to have incorporated wind turbine in its design.
- In addition to freshwater wells, which were once in abundance, there are places in the sea north of Bahrain where fresh water bubbles up in the middle of the salt water!
- Rumor has it there are no Bahraini restaurants in Bahrain. Sounds unlikely, but this advice holds true, no matter where you travel: if you want to eat authentic food, go to someone’s house.
- Its F1 track has been labeled “dull” and “boring”. changes made to the track for the 2010 race came under harsh criticism. Nick Fry, CEO of Mercedes GP, said it had a “lack of action,” and some media outlets worked in the term “Borehain” to their headlines.
- In Bahrain, you can eat a camel burger there.
- After his last child abuse case in 2005, Michael Jackson decided to lay low for a while, and wanting somewhere quiet and anonymous, picked Bahrain.
- In Bahrain, a male doctor may legally examine a woman’s genitals, but is prohibited from looking directly at them during the examination. He may only see their reflection in a mirror.
- Bahrain, It’s the Saudi version of Vegas. The main draw is alcohol, and Saudis cross the bridge to party, spend the night in the bars and clubs, and then often attempt to drive back, causing accidents and leading some to dub the Causeway “Blood Border.”
- It has no beaches. As one blogger explains: “For the last 20 years, Bahrain’s beaches have been grabbed by the ruling family or sold to private owners. Less than 5% of the beaches on Bahrain’s coastline are open to the public.” It seems that only those who are moneyed can enjoy a beach in Bahrain.
Historical and Cultural Facts about Bahrain
- One of the earliest cradles of civilization, with an archeological legacy of 5000 years, this island served as a very important strategic spot due to its location in the Persian Gulf.
- King Fahd Causeway was built in 1982 and about 1.2 billion US dollars were spent for its construction.
- Bahrain was the first Arabian country to discover petroleum in 1932.
- Bahrain is the first Arab country to host the Gulf Air Grand Prix in 2004. Other major events include, Bahrain Grand Prix, Australian V8 Supercar event, etc.
- The relationship within a family runs very high in Bahrain. Bahraini people love dance and music and hence their culture is rich in various kinds of art forms.
- In 2010 the kingdom was awarded the Golden Lion for the best national participation at the 12th Venice Architecture Biennale for ‘reclaim’, an investigation into the decline of the islands’ sea culture, which was the first official national participation of a Gulf state at the event.
- It is considered polite to leave some food on your plate when you have finished eating. This demonstrates that your host has showered his guests with generosity and abundance.
- It is ordinary for large extended families to live in the same house, compound, or village.
- If you are invited to a Bahraini’s home, bring a houseplant, box of imported chocolates, or a small gift from your home country. Always say that the gift is for your host, never the hostess, who you may not meet.
- If the meal is on the floor, sit cross-legged or kneel on one knee. Never let your feet touch the food mat. Eat only with the right hand.
- Honored guests are often offered the most prized pieces such as a sheep’s head.