Bahrain

Bahrain, or the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in the Persian Gulf in Western Asia. The capital of Bahrain is Manama. With a size of 711 km² (equivalent to the size of Singapore), Bahrain is the smallest country of the Arab states. The emirate, independent since 1971, became a kingdom in 2002. The country counts 1.2 million people (half of whom are nationals). Since 2011, it has been in a political crisis because half of its population is Shiite and feels oppresssed by the Sunni dynasty in power. The Shiite part of population demands reforms and the end of power discriminations.

Life is about 30% cheaper than in Belgium. Here are some price examples :

Basic products Price in Euros / Bahrain dinars
0,33L of water (bottle) 0,24 € / 0,10 BHD
1 simple meal 4,71 € / 2 BHD
1 bus ticket 0,59 € / 0,25 BHD

Arab is the official language of Bahrain but English is used in the business world and is taught in schools as second language. Urdu and Persian are also spoken among the population.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is the subject of much dissension between Saudi Arabia and Iran : Iran regularly proclaims Bahrain as part of its territory, which is absolutely not to the liking of the Saudis. The reasons given are multiple. First, Iran recalls the historical links with Bahrain : the island was conquered in the 17th century by Shah Abbas. This will have the consequence, due to the strong presence of Shiism and the commercial links maintained with the population, that Bahrain is said to be « naturally » Iranian.

This case was brought before the Council of Nations in 1927 by Iran when the British signed with the Saudis, who explicitly recognized Bahrain’s independence. Later, even if Bahrein has been sitting at the UN since the 1970s, Iran has kept claiming sovereignty over Bahrain.

The country produces a limited quantity of its food needs, considering the population, the climate, arable lands : dates, bananas, citruses… It imports most of its food. Livestock farming concerns a few thousand goats, cattle and sheep. However, fishing provides a lot of fish and shrimps

Vaccines and specific advice:

Find out about the vaccines you should make before going to this country and about the preventive and/or treatment measures for local diseases.

Checklist :

  • Vaccine updates, specific vaccines: 1-3 months before departure
  • Visit your doctor for any health problem, prescription renewal, contraception, etc. In addition, you will need to send your coordinator a certificate from your doctor certifying that you are well suited to take part in an international volunteering project.
  • Dentist: a dental check-up can be useful before going!

We advise you to visit the website of your country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry to consult the advice for every country.

Advice for American travellers: here

Advice for Canadian travellers: here

Advice for English travellers: here

Latest update: Summary – there are calls for unauthorized protests on Friday 9 November 2018 in unspecified locations across Bahrain; you should remain vigilant and be aware of your surroundings; follow the advice of the local authorities and if you encounter a demonstration, protest or any civil disturbances, leave the area immediately

Fore more info, read the full article Bahrain travel advice

We don’t have any partner in Bahrain at the moment.

PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN A VISA

Volunteers who go to Bahrain can get a visa at the airport on arrival. It is valid for a two-week stay but it is also possible to obtain a three-month visa.

To find out if you need a visa or to apply for a visa online, you can visit Bahrain’s foreign affairs website: here

Naturally, we invite you to consult the Embassy’s website before any departure in order to be informed of any changes

  • Embassy of Bahrain in the UK

http://www.bahrainembassy.co.uk/

The Embassy of The Kingdom of Bahrain – London
30 Belgrave Square
London, SW1X 8QB
United Kingdom
Tel: (+44) 0207 201 9170

  • Embassy of Bahrain in the USA :

https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?tabid=7702&language=en-US

  • Embassy of Bahrain in Canada :

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List of projects available in Bahrain