MANAMA TRAVEL GUIDE

How To Travel To Manama

At all border posts and airports, citizens of the following countries can get a 14-day visa. The cost is 25 dinars ($66).

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland (3 months), Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom (3 months).

You may also apply for an eVisa in advance online. However, this is only available to people of specific countries. Although people qualified for eVisas can still receive visas on arrival, having an eVisa will likely assist you to go through Customs faster because you won’t have to get the visa at the port of entry.

Bahrain is one of the few Gulf countries that recognizes Israeli passports (though visas are required) and passports with proof of travels to Israel.

Nationals of GCC member nations do not need a visa, and residents of GCC member states, regardless of nationality, will be issued a short stay visa on arrival.

How to Get In Manama - By Plane

Bahrain International Airport is the major hub for Gulf Air and is located in Muharraq, just east of Manama. It provides strong connections across the region as well as to London. The airport features decent duty-free shopping, and a Transhotel that offers (for a price) beds and showers to travelers waiting for flights is now being redevelopment. Many people of eastern Saudi Arabia prefer to fly out of Bahrain, and Gulf Air provides shuttle services to Khobar and Dammam to meet this demand; enquire when making your reservation.

Air Arabia, a low-cost airline based in the United Arab Emirates, operates daily flights from Sharjah Airport, north of Dubai.

Unlike other airports, this one is rather tiny, which is advantageous because departure and arrival are relatively quick(and easy).

How to Get In Manama - By Bus

The Saudi-Bahraini Transport Company (SABTCO) provides eight buses daily from the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) bus station in Dammam to the bus terminal close to the Lulu Centre in central Manama, via Saudi Arabia’s Khobar and the King Fahd Causeway.

The service employs air-conditioned vehicles with baggage trailers. Tickets are SR60/BD6 and may be purchased in advance, however if room is available, they will let you in without a reservation. Allow 2 hours for the trip, plus any traffic delays at peak periods like Wednesday evenings, because crossing the Causeway requires two passport checks and two customs inspections. Buses may be somewhat faster than private automobiles during crowded times since they may utilize different lanes at immigration and customs.

Note that, as of 2011, Bahrain Saudi Transport & Tourism (BASATCO) offers what appear to be comparable buses for BD4, but only four times each day.

How to Get In Manama - By Car

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are connected by the 26-kilometer King Fahd Causeway. Rental cars are normally not allowed to cross, however SABTCO’s BahrainLimo taxis, which seat up to four people, can do so for BD30/SR300. Unofficial taxis, which may be located at both ends of the bus line, may offer somewhat reduced prices.