Tourism in Bahrain

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"ref|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.

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 Qalat Al Bahrain which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lost Paradise of Dilmun

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park

Notes

# [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/middle-east/bahrain Bahrain Travel Information] at Lonely Planet Destination Guide

ee also

* Bahrain
* List of tourist attractions in Bahrain
* History of Bahrain

External links

*wikitravel|Bahrain
*dmoz|Regional/Middle_East/Bahrain/Travel_and_Tourism|Bahrain travel and tourism