Restricted Realms: World’s Most Extraordinary and Off-Limits Places
Tourist destinationsIn a world full of well-known travel destinations, some incredible sites stay secret and unreachable to most people. For those who are adventurous enough to…
Stretching across the shallow waters of the Gulf just off Qatar’s coast, the Hawar Islands are a remote archipelago of scrubby plains, salt flats and reefs that harbor extraordinary life. To the casual eye they may seem desolate – sunbaked dunes and tidal flats, seldom more than a few meters above sea level. In truth, this cluster of some 30–36 islands (total land about 50–52 km²) is Bahrain’s last remaining wild sanctuary. As one conservation study notes, these “Islands are Bahrain’s last remaining true wilderness” – home to dazzling flocks of birds, ancient sea grasses and herds of desert gazelles, as well as endangered dugongs and turtles. Lying roughly 19 km from Bahrain’s main island (and barely 2 km from Qatar), Hawar has a rugged beauty all its own: a windswept stage where nature’s cycles play out largely undisturbed.
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Geologically, the Hawar group is overwhelmingly limestone. Most of the islands are flat and rocky, molded from ancient marine sediments into low cliffs and beach-ridge plains. The largest – Jazirat Hawar itself – is about 17 km long and only a few kilometers wide at its broadest, with its highest point a modest 28 m at a feature called Al-Jabal. Surrounding smaller islands bear names like Rubud al-Gharbiyah, Suwad al-Janubiyah and Umm Hazwarah. Many others are mere sandbanks or mudflats that become islands at high tide. The coastal zone around Hawar is consistently shallow (rarely over 6 m deep), with extensive intertidal flats and hypersaline lagoons (sabkhas) that reach up to 80 parts per thousand salinity.
The climate is arid: salt-crusted plains and sparse vegetation characterize Hawar’s interior. In the northeast lie vast semi-enclosed mudflats rich in seagrasses and algae, among the most productive habitats on the islands. These extensive marshes and tidal pools teem with invertebrates – worms, crustaceans and mollusks – providing food for flocks of wading birds. Along the coasts one finds a mosaic of habitats: on Hawar’s western shore broad sand beaches give way to low dunes, while the eastern side is indented by crescent-shaped bays and rocky headlands. The Rubud islands to the south feature dense mudflats where little flamingos and herons graze at low tide. Coral reef fragments and rock pools exist offshore, and the entire archipelago is encircled by reefs and shallow shoals. From above, the Hawars look like a handful of green-tinged rocks in turquoise water – but below the surface and across the sands there is a surprisingly rich ecology.
Notably, Hawar is officially recognized as Bahrain’s largest protected natural area. A report by the local power authority emphasizes that “Hawar Island is the largest protected area in Bahrain”. Administratively, it falls under Bahrain’s Southern Governorate. Despite the barren appearance, no human settlements survived here long-term: today only a small Bahraini coastguard outpost and (recently) a tourist resort occupy the main island. Fresh water is scarce – historically Hawaris collected rain runoff and now rely on desalinated water shipped in or produced on site – and aside from the wadi-like drainage that forms salty sabkhas, the land is essentially lifeless between higher tides. But it is precisely this aridity and isolation that has preserved Hawar’s fragile ecosystems over millennia.
The human story of Hawar is mostly one of passing travelers. In the 19th century the islands were occasionally inhabited by nomadic tribes (notably a branch of the Dawasir) but later largely abandoned. The first detailed surveys by outsiders occurred under British rule, which had protectorates in the region. In 1939 the British arbitrated a land dispute between Bahrain and Qatar, ruling that Hawar belonged to Bahrain. This decision was not an “award” in the modern sense but it set a de facto boundary for decades.
That arrangement held until Bahrain’s independence and the emergence of Qatar as a separate state. Both countries claimed Hawar. For years there was tension but no armed conflict. Eventually in 1991 Qatar formally asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to adjudicate maritime and land boundaries with Bahrain, including Hawar. After elaborate hearings and two interim judgments, the ICJ delivered its final decision on 16 March 2001. The Court examined old treaties, colonial documents and historical use, but crucially upheld the old British finding. The judges stated that “the British decision of 1939…must be regarded as a decision that was binding from the outset on both States…Rejecting Qatar’s arguments that the decision was null and void, the Court concluded that Bahrain had sovereignty over the Hawar Islands.” Qatar ultimately received only one small island, Janan (and its islet Hadd Janan) south of Hawar, but not the Hawar group itself.
In practice, this settled a 60-year dispute: Hawar belonged to Bahrain. Since then the islands have been governed as part of Bahrain’s Southern Governorate. (Janan remains Qatari, a mere curiosity of the boundary ruling.) The ICJ’s ruling effectively legitimized decades of Bahraini administration. Yet the historical dimness of the record means that Bahrain still treats Hawar as remote frontier lands – and Qatar views them as a legacy of colonial border-making. Today no visible border markers remain, but the old flags have changed. In any case, sovereignty is no longer a live issue: instead, attention has shifted to how best to manage this pristine territory.
From a wildlife perspective, the Hawar Islands rank as globally important. In 1996 the Bahraini Council of Ministers proclaimed Hawar a protected nature reserve, explicitly recognizing its ecological value. The following year, on 26 February 1997, Bahrain ratified the Ramsar Convention and designated Hawar as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. In doing so, it acknowledged that the Hawar wetlands – though saline and seemingly barren – are vital waterfowl habitats. Today Hawar remains under strict conservation regulation: virtually no commercial development is allowed outside the scope of scientific or tourism planning.
Bahrain has even pursued international designations. In 2001 the government placed Hawar on UNESCO’s Tentative List for World Heritage status, nominating it as a natural property. (The official submission invoked criteria for exceptional natural beauty and ecological processes.) Although it has not yet achieved full World Heritage inscription, this move underscores the government’s view of Hawar as an “irreplaceable wilderness”. Conservationists have proposed going further – for example, designating a broader biosphere reserve centered on Hawar, with Bahrain’s Al-Areen Wildlife Park on the mainland serving as a research and education hub. The message is clear: Hawar’s intact ecosystems are rare for this densely populated region, and Bahrain seeks to signal its commitment to preserving them.
These protections are rooted in Bahraini law and policy. Bahrain’s 1999 National Charter expressly calls for natural resources to be managed without damaging the environment. In practice this has meant a patchwork of agencies: the pre-independence Wildlife Committee (now the National Commission for Wildlife Preservation) and the Supreme Council for Environment share jurisdiction, as does the Electricity & Water Authority when it comes to infrastructure. Non-government actors like the Bahrain Natural History Society have advocated for Hawar, and Bahrain is a party to regional conventions on migratory birds and marine pollution. At sea, certain areas around Hawar are designated no-fishing zones, and several of the islands themselves are effectively off-limits (more on that below).
Despite the legal framework, Hawar’s ecology still faces challenges. Bahrain’s boom-era reclamation projects and coastal developments on the main island have altered much of its shoreline, putting pressure on any marine habitat near Hawar. Industrial pollution (oil discharges, heavy metals) and unchecked fishing have damaged Gulf waters for decades. The Med-O-Med conservation network warns that urbanization is “the main threat” to Bahrain’s biodiversity, citing dredging, filling and overfishing in particular. Invasive species (such as date-palm cultivars and other non-native plants) also encroach on native habitats. In short, while Hawar itself is far from factories, it does not exist in a vacuum: environmental problems in the Gulf can affect its coral reefs, and unchecked tourism or development there could also harm its sensitive dunes and salt flats.
The government recognizes these risks. A 2003 report from the National Wildlife & Conservation Program notes with concern that “a number of suggested development proposals…would certainly be acutely damaging to the area” unless strictly managed. Bahrain has invested in marine surveys (mostly by volunteers) to establish baselines for key species, but comprehensive studies remain scarce. There is a clear consensus among scientists that any step forward – whether tourism or urban planning – needs rigorous environmental oversight. As one expert summary put it, the protected area “provides habitat for a diverse range of marine and terrestrial species,” from dugongs to migratory birds, so any activity must be designed to keep that habitat intact.
Even with minimal human disturbance, Hawar’s ecosystems teem with life. The archipelago lies on a major migratory route, and about 150 species of birds have been recorded there. Socotra cormorants steal the show: one survey in 1992 counted 200,000–300,000 breeding adults on Hawar, the largest colony of this species in the world. In fact, studies emphasize that Hawar’s Socotra cormorant colony is “the largest in the world,” second only (among dugongs) to Australia for the size of its population. Other resident seabirds include bridled, lesser-crested and white-cheeked terns, Saunders’s terns, and a thriving wader community. The western reef egret (also known as the reef heron) and the elusive sooty falcon (a pale falcon of desert coasts) breed here in healthy numbers.
During the cooler months, dozens of migratory species fill the skies. Greater flamingos feed in salt pans, moving in and out of the sheltered lagoons. Great white pelicans, herons, egrets and plovers make seasonal stops. The islands have even been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International, specifically because they support such significant coastal and migratory bird populations.
Terrestrially, the wildlife is equally striking. On Hawar itself a small herd of Arabian oryx was established decades ago; these graceful antelope now roam the gravel plains of the larger islands. Sand gazelles are also present in limited numbers. These species were long extinct on the mainland and endure in only a few Arabian refuges, so their presence here is prized. The vegetation is sparse – acacias, salt bushes, and hardy grasses on the dunes – but enough to sustain these browsers.
Perhaps the most evocative image is that of the “sea cows.” Dugongs (Dugong dugon) graze in the seagrass meadows, and their feeding marks (V-shaped trails in the grass) are often seen around Hawar. A 2006 conservation report noted that Hawar’s dugong population is among the largest in the world – second only to Australia – and that the shallow coastal waters are critical grazing grounds for these globally endangered mammals. Green sea turtles also nest on hidden beaches and forage in the reefs. In one year’s survey, researchers estimated that more than 150 bird species alone used the islands for feeding, roosting or breeding, reflecting a marine ecosystem of remarkable variety and productivity.
Underwater, the sea around Hawar is a fisherman’s treasure chest. Surveys (though incomplete) have found schools of kingfish (mackerels) and reef groupers, as well as species like mullet, silver biddy, goatfish and rainbow runner. Indeed, artisanal fishermen from Bahrain report catches of up to 450 tonnes per year from Hawar’s waters, with kingfish alone making up some 60% of the haul. These catch figures underline that the entire archipelago functions as a kind of marine nursery: coral reef fragments, seagrass beds and intertidal flats support juveniles of many commercially important species.
A 2003 study highlights that nearly every guild of fish and shellfish – from bottom-feeding croakers to schooling herbivores – finds habitat among Hawar’s reefs and lagoons. Moreover, the lagoons are rich in plankton and invertebrates (jellies, crabs of species like Scylla serrata, worms and molluscs) that form the base of the food web. In short, far from an empty wilderness, Hawar’s combination of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and crustaceans make it an ecological hotspot – one well beyond Bahrain’s other environmental assets in biodiversity richness.
In recent years, Bahrain has turned a corner on how to use Hawar. Instead of mining or leaving it entirely closed, the government now sees the islands as a potential tourism showcase – provided that development is done gently. In late 2024 the first project under this new vision came to fruition: Hawar Resort by Mantis. Official sources describe this as the archipelago’s “first strategic project” under a masterplan for Hawar. When the luxury eco-resort opened in early 2025, it generated wide attention as Bahrain’s first truly island resort.
Hawar Resort by Mantis is positioned as an “environmentally focused” getaway in the Gulf. Nestled on the eastern shore of Hawar Island, the property has 104 guest units including beachside suites and over-water villas. Park-style gardens spill onto a 1.8-km private beach. Amenities include several restaurants (with rotating celebrity-chef pop-ups), a spa, pools, sports courts and even adventure activities. The resort market itself underlines its green credentials: it boasts of replacing single-use plastics with bamboo products and employing “advanced conservation techniques” to shield the local flora and fauna. Official statements highlight that “the resort reflects a deep respect for the environment” and Bahrain’s heritage, signalling an effort to balance comfort with awareness of Hawar’s natural character.
In practice, Hawar Resort has brought the first significant visitor infrastructure to the islands. Guests arrive via a dedicated boat transfer: a 25-minute ride from the mainland al-Dur Marina (near the Durrat al Bahrain development) to the Hawar dock. (This supplants an older concept of a public ferry: currently there is no fixed-timetable passenger service, so tourists all come via the resort’s launch.) Although billed as a high-end family destination (complete with camel rides, falconry displays and even a planned Bear Grylls survival park), the marketing is also careful to emphasize birdwatching and nature experiences. The resort notes that Hawar’s biodiversity can be enjoyed year-round, with migratory birds arriving seasonally. This dovetails with Bahrain’s tourism strategy: officials have pointed out that the Hawar plan “capitalises on [Bahrain’s] unique position as the region’s only archipelagic nation, complemented by a rich marine environment and diverse islands”. In other words, Hawar Resort is intended as a nucleus for eco-conscious tourism that will – the hope is – create jobs and foreign revenue, rather than a belt of concrete hotels.
The resort’s arrival has already spurred ancillary developments. In December 2024 the government inaugurated a new Electricity and Water Control Centre as part of infrastructure upgrades; the cabinet noted that this center would improve power and water efficiency “and increase the Kingdom’s capacity to support future development”. Behind the scenes, a serious power and water project was underway: Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) tendered new seawater desalination capacity and laid submarine power cables to Hawar, replacing unreliable diesel generation. These investments underscore the official line: any tourism boost must come with solid infrastructure.
Nonetheless, by design Hawar’s hospitality remains low-density. Apart from the resort’s staff and permitted tour groups, virtually no civilians live on the islands. Early tourism figures are modest (the resort caters to hundreds of guests per month, not thousands). Operators emphasize controlled, guided experiences: snorkelling in designated areas, guided bird walks, limited jet-skiing zones, etc., all intended to minimize human footprint. For example, wild boar or hog deer (introduced by earlier conservation efforts on Hawar) are off-limits to guests except viewing. Tentative plans call for a small marina and eco-center, not an international airport. The idea is that visitors arrive by boat and stay on the single large island, leaving the other 30 islands largely untouched. In briefing materials, Bahrain even touts Hawar as an opportunity for “sustainable modern land-use”, including waste management and renewable energy development, alongside tourism.
The real test will be whether growth can be matched with protection. Many observers note that Hawar’s fate will hinge on enforcement of its reserve status. Already, the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) and related authorities maintain that all tourism activities must “ensure the preservation of marine resources, environmental protection, and wildlife conservation”. New regulations are being drafted (by the Higher Authority, see below) to specify investor criteria and zoned areas. Meanwhile, environmental monitors keep an eye on bird nesting success and water quality. It is too early to assess the ecological impact of the resort, but the presence of management aims to avoid past mistakes made elsewhere in Bahrain (for instance, the environmental cost of land reclamation projects on the mainland).
Decades of isolation meant that Hawar’s utilities were rudimentary. Until recently, island power came from an old diesel generator; water was supplied by a small desalination plant supplemented by deliveries from tankers. Neither arrangement could support modern tourism or preserve the environment (diesel fumes and leaks, plus high-cost water import). Recognizing this, Bahrain launched a comprehensive upgrade in the early 2020s. By 2020 an Irish firm (ESB International) was contracted to design the new electrical connection. The solution: lay three high-voltage (66 kV) submarine cables totaling about 25 km from the mainland to Hawar. These cables now run from an upgraded substation at Durrat al Bahrain to a new substation on Hawar Island. Once fully energized, they will deliver stable grid power – removing the need for noisy diesel fuel and reducing wildfire risk from gensets. The project, celebrated by the EWA as “a project of extreme importance” and even “historical,” was partly funded by the Saudi Fund for Development.
In parallel, Bahrain issued a tender in 2024 for a new SWRO desalination plant on Hawar. Five international consortiums bid to build it. The planned capacity is about 1–2 million imperial gallons per day (roughly 4–9 million liters), with twin storage tanks; even a conservative 1 MIGD would greatly exceed current demand. If all goes to plan, an EPC contract will be signed and the plant built within a year. In practical terms, this means Hawar will soon have a modern water system – pumped from the sea and filtered to potable standards – servicing resort and operations without continuous fuel imports. Bahrain’s tender conditions emphasize experience with similar projects, hinting that the authorities intend a turnkey facility of the latest design.
With reliable power and water assured, other infrastructure followed. Roads have been built across the main island (light-duty asphalt paths), and a small port/dock complex now handles the resort’s boat shuttles and emergency boats. A new Airport Control and Water Center (part of the Electricity & Water Control Centre mentioned earlier) was opened by the Crown Prince, described as a high-tech nerve center to manage Hawar and other remote utilities. Communications have also been upgraded: a microwave link from Bahrain supplies internet and phone to Hawar (the island even has limited mobile coverage). All these enhancements mean that Hawar no longer feels “off-grid” in the way it once did; instead, it is being knitted into Bahrain’s national infrastructure framework, albeit at considerable expense.
The timing reflects national planning: Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and tourism strategies list Hawar as a priority for development. In cabinet communiqués, ministers noted that power and water projects on Hawar would “consolidate major development initiatives and bolster the economy”. Indeed, one reason to press ahead with the desalination plant now is to enable future phases of the masterplan (beyond the resort’s initial footprint). We may yet see additional facilities – such as research stations, an expanded marina, or renewable energy (Bahrain has proposed solar parks on Hawar) – that tap this new infrastructure.
Perhaps more than any other factor, Hawar’s inaccessibility defines it. By design and tradition, ordinary tourism access is tightly controlled. Until the resort opened, there was no public ferry to the islands – only private boats used by environmentalists and fishermen. Officially, Hawar’s connection is a 25 km ferry ride from Manama, but in reality almost no commercial service runs. Instead, those wishing to visit must be on a government-sanctioned tour or stay, with travel via authorized vessels. The new Mantis resort provides its own dock and launches, so guests board from the al-Dur Marina and cruise out. (This route takes about 25–30 minutes by speedboat.) By contrast, the small airport on Sitra or up-country serves only mainland flights, not Hawar itself.
In practice, Hawar Island is essentially the sole gateway for visitors. On Hawar stands a Bahraini police patrol compound and the resort – together the only inhabited structures. All other islands in the archipelago are off-limits. Local regulations bar entry to the smaller islands even for fishermen or tourists, except for authorized research or government patrols. As one source puts it, aside from Hawar Island’s garrison and hotel, “access to all but Hawar Island itself is severely restricted”. This makes Hawar a tightly managed zone: the vast majority of the archipelago remains a no-human zone, effectively a sanctuary. In recent years it has become possible for small groups (Bahraini citizens and foreigners) to get day-trip permits for Hawar, but even those are carefully vetted by the Environmental Authority. Unregulated visits were and are prohibited; for example, one used to need a special permit even to stop a private yacht at Hawar.
Once on Hawar Island, travel is still limited. There are no public rental cars. The resort provides 4×4 shuttles and bikes between the beach, villas and pools. Government vehicles do supply the outpost and service needs. Footpaths snake around the hotel grounds and the outskirts of the garrison, but beyond that visitors cannot roam freely into the wild interior. In short, tourism is allowed only in designated zones (currently just around the resort). The rest of the territory is set aside for wildlife, patrolled by rangers who will fine or detain unauthorized intruders.
This strict regime has preserved Hawar’s ecosystems up to now. Even the new resort’s manager proudly notes that guests do not see heavy machinery or development sites – it feels “remote” despite new roads. Indeed, the contrast with Bahrain’s other tourism projects (man-made islands, luxury marinas) is stark: Hawar tourism is deliberately kept low-key, with no shopping malls or casinos. And this will likely continue. The master plan envisions only eco-lodges and soft-adventure facilities, all within the existing footprint. Boat traffic is regulated to avoid disturbing seals and turtles. In its current phase, Hawar is less a destination for casual strolls than a place one goes to experience solitude amid nature – with high-end service, to be sure, but not a theme park.
Managing this balance falls to Bahraini authorities, who have been working to strengthen governance even as tourism begins. Central among new measures is the Higher Authority for Hawar Islands Development, established by royal decree in December 2024. Chaired by Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa (the King’s representative and head of the Supreme Council for Environment), this inter-ministerial body brings together environment, tourism, economic development and other officials, plus private-sector advisors. The authority’s mandate is wide-ranging: it must propose an integrated tourism strategy for Hawar, phase the development of infrastructure, and set regulations for investment. Crucially, the decree spells out that the authority’s work must “ensure the preservation of marine resources, environmental protection, and wildlife conservation”. In effect, it is intended to be a one-stop shop that aligns Bahrain’s economic goals with its environmental laws for the Hawar project.
This move reflects lessons learned over decades. Earlier proposals for Hawar (in the 1980s and 1990s) were shelved precisely because planners feared they would degrade the islands. Only with the rise of eco-tourism has Bahrain felt ready to push forward. The Higher Authority is thus charged with avoiding shortcuts: it will vet any projects for sustainability, much as the 2003 biosphere study advised that expert guidance is “most effectively” applied to Hawar’s development. Its powers include recommending strict tourism investment criteria, infrastructure standards, and even marketing plans. For example, it might limit hotel floor area, require wastewater recycling, or designate core conservation zones where no building is allowed. It is too soon to tell how rigorously these rules will be enforced, but the framework is formalized.
Alongside these new bodies, long-standing conservation policies remain in force. Bahrain’s National Wildlife Committee (now within SCE) monitors the islands’ status. Periodic counts of bird colonies continue, funded by the government or NGOs. In the past, projects like the Mashtan Island marine reserve (declared in 2002) showed that Bahrain is willing to draw lines on maps – and Hawar benefits from that mindset. Moreover, international organizations (UNESCO, Ramsar, BirdLife) and regional bodies (the Gulf Environment Facility, ROPME for marine pollution) all keep their eyes on Hawar. The threat of international censure or funding loss provides an incentive to keep the islands’ condition high.
At the same time, the challenges noted above still loom. Enforcement capacity is limited: the Bahrain Environment Authority has only a handful of rangers and patrol boats. Illegal fishing occasionally occurs in forbidden zones, and benthic damage from anchors is a concern. Climate change – particularly sea-level rise and more intense storms – could inundate some low-lying areas and alter salinity regimes. Freshwater availability is technically solved by desalination, but any failure in that system (storms or fuel shortages) could quickly strand residents. Invasive pests (e.g. snakes transported by boats) are quietly feared but under-monitored. These issues are recognized in strategy documents, but require constant vigilance.
Financially, too, the islands’ upkeep is non-trivial. Maintaining power lines, desalination, and waste treatment on a remote reef costs far more per capita than on the mainland. Bahrain is essentially subsidizing Hawar’s utilities to enable tourism income later. Balancing this ledger depends on sustained tourist arrivals – something not guaranteed in a region with volatile politics. That calculus reminds planners of a broader truth: Hawar’s value is measured not only in Riyals, but in heritage. The government’s own reports state that even if Hawar became a biosphere reserve rather than a tourist site, its worth as a model for conservation would be immeasurable.
Looking forward, all eyes are on how Bahrain implements its ambitious plans. The Higher Authority (with representatives from tourism, culture, environment and investment bodies) has set an agenda of making Hawar a model for sustainable tourism – an example to the region. Officials speak of carefully phased development: for instance, the Mantis resort is called “phase one” of a master plan. Future phases may add a small eco-lodge or research station, or expand the marina slightly – always under the Authority’s guidance.
A positive sign is the interconnected approach: tourism ministries are working with environment agencies instead of independently. For example, the Tourism Development plan mentioned promoting Hawar’s heritage and wildlife, not just its beaches. The Bahrain Mumtalakat (the sovereign wealth fund) and local investors are involved, suggesting strong public backing. Moreover, regional buy-in is emerging; Gulf airlines are adding flights to Bahrain to bring Europeans and Asians to the Gulf summer low-season. One can imagine visitors combining a stay in Hawar with major events in Bahrain (e.g. the Formula One Grand Prix or cultural festivals).
For Hawar itself, the future will be judged by whether its ecosystems remain robust. If the Socotra cormorant colony stays healthy, if the dugongs keep grazing unharmed, if the beaches still shelter turtles under the soft lunar tides, then the stewardship could be called a success. Conversely, any sign of erosion, pollution or disturbance would raise alarms. Thus far, the combination of legal protection and cautious development has kept Hawar’s wild character intact. The islands’ resilience will partly stem from their nature (few roads, no heavy industry) and partly from deliberate choice. As one analysis put it, “managed protected areas…offer a valuable asset for the emergence of a tourism industry, in particular for outdoor recreation, education, and eco-tourism” – but only if development “does not lower the interest or integrity of the local…environment.” That admonition remains the guiding principle for Hawar’s guardians.
Hawar Islands stand out as a rare thread of untamed nature. They have journeyed from colonial whim to World Court judgment to eco-tourism frontier. Today, they are at a crossroads: prized for their wildlife and designation as a Ramsar wetland, yet eyed as an asset to diversify Bahrain’s tourism economy. The country’s response – pouring resources into infrastructure, forming a high-level development authority, and installing a luxury yet eco-conscious resort – signals intent.
Whether Hawar can become the “world-class eco-tourism destination” its planners hope for, while remaining a wild sanctuary, will be one of this decade’s telling tests in the Gulf region. So far, the signs are cautiously optimistic: development here is slow and measured, and the strict access rules mean that most of the archipelago is still little more than limestone, sea grass and sky. For Bahrain, the hope is that Hawar will serve as a living classroom: a place where history, ecology and culture converge, and where the nation’s stewardship of nature can shine as brightly as its capital’s skyline.
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