With the Bahrain Grand Prix coming up at the beginning of April, it is the perfect time to get to know this island kingdom in the Arabian Gulf. Located between the east coast of Saudi Arabia and the west coast of Qatar, Bahrain is home to over 1.3 million citizens and a high-income economy, as recognized by the World Bank.

When operating to Bahrain, you will arrive and depart at Bahrain International Airport (BAH / OBBI), which is located in the northeast of the group of island that form the country. In-flight catering is available out of Bahrain International Airport through the ACW Network.

The USA 5th Naval Fleet is based in Bahrain, hence the country has a lot of American service men and woman. Culturally, Bahrain is the most relaxed when compared to other Middle Eastern countries. Juffair is the area next to the Naval Base and is known for its vibrant nightlife and restaurants. For restaurants with everything from pizza, sushi, Indian and beyond; Adliya is the place to visit. La Fontaine is a highly-recommended place to grab a cup of coffee in the middle of town, which also has an art gallery and spa. Masso is a nice, rustic Italian restaurant and Bushido is a great place for Asian cuisine and sushi; it also has a very hip club and is located next to the Ritz Carlton in Seef. Sofitel is a popular hotel with great restaurants, a spa and beach; located near the F1 track.

Friday and Saturday is the weekend in Bahrain, with Sunday being the first day of the working week. While Arabic is the official language, you will find it very hard to find non-English speakers. The currency is the Bahraini Dinar, which, as of today, holds a value of 1 Dinar = $2.65 USD.

For site seeing, the Aldar Islands is only a five-minute boat ride from the mainland and is a great place for watching dolphins and diving for pearls. Here you can stay the night in a chalet and dine on local barbecue. Pearl diving houses are also located in Muharraq. Juffair is home to the Grand Mosque, where you can view its unique architecture and intricate designs. For Bahraini history, visit the National Museum, Fort Arad and Riffa Fort. The much-fabled Tree of Life is also in Bahrain. If you are looking to shop, you will be delighted with several malls in the country, including City Centre Mall, the largest in Bahrain.

Questions?

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