Expatriate Forums in Bahrain

Admin2 · Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 74 Home Country: countryx

BAHRAIN TRAVEL TIPS ( Traveling to Bahrain essentials )

Bahrain Custom Controls and Regulations

Allowances for alcohol, tobacco and perfume are very low.

The maximum quantities permitted are:-

* One liter of wines or spirits or six cans of beer (non Muslims only).
* 200 cigarettes or fifty cigars. Note: Cigarettes are very reasonably priced in Bahrain, A well known brand will cost One UK pound / Just under 2 US Dollars, So it is not worth bringing tobacco into Bahrain.
* 250g of loose tobacco.
* Eight ounces (227ml) of perfume.
* Gifts up to the value of BD 250.

Narcotics are absolutely prohibited as are: -

* p*rn
* narcotics
* cultured pearls (because of the local pearl industry)
* guns and ammunition.

Visitors must fill in a disembarkation card for immigration.

Health certificates are required only if you are travelling from an area where there are diseases such as cholera or yellow fever.

Islamic Public Holidays:

-Eid Al Adha:January 10 2006

-Labour Day:May 1 2006

-Independence Day: June 27 2006

-Al Hijri: (Islamic New Year) January 30 2006

-Ramadan Starts: September 24 2006

-Ashura:(Shi'ite day of mourning) February 7 2006

-Eid al-Fitr: October 23 2006

-Milad al-Nabi: April 10 2006

Taxis:

Taxis are readily available in Bahrain and taxi-drivers, like their colleagues all over the world, are in business. For your own information, you should get a copy of the booklet Taxi Fares and Tourist Information Guide, which is available free at the tourist office. The booklet contains a complete list of the official taxi rates in both Arabic and English. However, the official fares do increase between midnight and 05:00 am, and a taxi hired at the airport normally costs an extra dinar.

Unofficially, hiring a taxi by the hour costs about BD5, and for this price the driver should take you whereever you want to go and also wait for as long as you like.

Generally speaking, in Bahrain and in all other Arab countries, it is a good idea to agree on the fare in advance unless the taxi has a meter.

Buses

As Bahrain is relatively small, it is not a difficult place to get around. There is a good bus system which links most of the towns on the island to both Manama and Muharraq. The fare is normally a flat 50 fils per trip.

Buses run from 5.30 or 6.30 in the morning until about 9.30 in the evening. There is some variation in both trip frequency and beginning and ending of service times. These can be verified at the terminals in either Manama and Muharraq.

Cars

Cars can be rented for about BD15 per day. Bahrain is the only country in the Gulf where foreign driving licences cannot be used to rent cars. Bahraini law requires an International Driving Licence which must be obtained prior to arrival in Bahrain. Foreigners resident in other GCC countries, however, can rent a car using the licence from their county of residence.

Bahraini law requires drivers and people riding in the front seats of cars to use seat belts. There is a fine of BD10 for violating this law.

Speed limits are enforced and drunk driving laws are strict.

Religion:

Although Islam is the state religion and 85% of the population are Muslims, there are also Christians, Jews, Bahais, and Hindus. Each group is free to practice its religion.

Language

Arabic is the official language of Bahrain. Farsi is not uncommon, and English is widely used in business.

Bahrain Time:

Bahrain is 3 hours ahead of GMT and there is no Summer time change for Bahrain.

Bahrain Business Hours:

Friday is the weekly day of rest. Many businesses close early on Thursday. The 36-hour week with Thursday and Friday as weekend applies to all branches of the Civil Service and schools.

-Government offices: 07.00-14.15 Sat to Tues; 07.00-14.00 Wed

-Commercial organizations: 07.00-12.00 then 14.30-17.30 Sat to Thurs

-Shops: 08.00-12.30 then 15.30-18.30 Sat to Thurs

-Banks: 07.30-12.00 Sat to Wed, then 15.30-17.30 (some banks); 07.30-11.00 Thurs

Clothes

Lightweight clothing is suitable for May - October. Medium-weight clothing is suitable for November - April. Sunglasses are necessary. Bahrain is very modern in its approach to everyday life. While no formal dress code is imposed, for the sake of courtesy and common sense, visitors should dress sensibly when in town. This means, shorts are not normally acceptable for either sex, and women should not wear short, low- cut, backless or sleeveless dresses which may give offence to some members of the local community.

Source: newarabia.net, bahrainnetwork