The main open-air vegetable, fish and fresh produce market in Bahrain is located in Manama, a little distance away from the city centre. A great place to shop for fresh catch of the day as well as the best variety of fruits and vegetables. Also a great place to catch some of the local flavour of Bahrain!

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A view of the skyline in Manama in February 2006 .. and the Bahrain Financial Harbour in the distance - still under construction.



tags: bahrain

A view of the upcoming Bahrain World Trade Centre - the WTC is expected to be completed in 2006. The shot below shows the newly upgraded & colourful roundabout, the new carpark of the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel & Towers, the hotel itself and the World Trade Centre in the background.

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For golf enthusiasts and beginners, the Riffa Golf Club in Bahrain offers great options to play, learn and practice...even at night!

Acclaimed as 'challenging but fair', this remarkable oasis of luscious fairways and immaculate greens is a 6,817 yard, par 72 championship course, featuring five lakes and more than 600 date palms, beautifully landscaped with desert-sand rough. Pace of Play: approx 4 hours 4 minutes.

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MANAMA, Bahrain, February 16, 2005. Associates from the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel & Towers joined students and other volunteers at a clean-up campaign on Arad Beach, held on Thursday, the 16th of February. The event, which was organized by the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife in cooperation with the Muharraq Governorate, aimed at cleaning up the coast, as part of events to mark National Environment Day. [Read More!]

The Arad Fort is a 16th Century Arabic construction which has undergone (and is still undergoing) quite a bit of restoration. The Fort is located on the Arad Beach and offers a great view of the Sea. The fort is also illuminated at night and offers a beautiful spot for peaceful reflection.

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If you're new to Bahrain, a must see is the Bahrain-Saudi Causeway, built in the middle of the sea. There is a toll of BD 2.000 for entry to the causeway and a rest-stop in the middle of the causeway. The Causeway Restaurant offers a great view of the causeway and the surrounding areas - entrance is 500 fils, and includes a cup or tea or coffee. The service or cleanliness is not so great but the views are worth a visit. The surrounding area is also great for a walk or just relaxing near the sea.



tags: bahrain

A beautiful shot of the sun setting over Bahrain - taken from the Industrial area...



tags: bahrain

To encourage visitors coming to Bahrain for the Formula 1 race this March, the Kingdom has announced that free 'F1' visas will be offered to overseas visitors.

Travellers coming to Bahrain for the F1 can obtain the visa if they have a valid ticket to the race, proof of purchase or an official association with the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Read the story here: Bahrain to offer free 'F1 Visa' - Middle East Business news related to travel, food, hotel, real estate, health, oil and more

tags: bahrain

With the furore over the cartoon / caricature issue reaching fever pitch, the Danish Government has advised its citizens to leave Syria and Lebanon, and also advised against unnecessary travel to Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan and the UAE.

However, the government of Bahrain and the Danish Consulate in Bahrain insist that the country is, and always has been a safe haven for Danes and expats in general.

Read the story here: Nothing to fear - By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI

tags: bahrain

Bahrain and India happen to have quite a prosperous history together, and the inter-twining of culture is quite visible in Bahraini society today. With the positive reform trend in both countries, the natural move forward is to boost economic and investment ties with each other.

The GDN reports on a meeting between the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Indian Embassy on possible measures. Joint ventures in the areas of aluminium and petrochemicals are particularly favorable. Other areas include Banking & Finance, IT, construction & real estate, metals and the auto parts industry.

Read the whole story here: Bahrain-India agree to increase investment flow - Gulf Daily News

tags: bahrain

Excerpts:
Bahrain’s economy continued its forward momentum in 2004 and is on course for another year of stupendous growth on the back of high oil price coupled with the economic developments. The growth in Bahrain is being driven by public spending. Robust government spending, prompted by exceptionally strong oil revenue, will stimulate private consumption and will help to bolster business confidence.

Bahrain has been encouraging both the private and the foreign players to invest and become party to the country’s growth. In line with foreign investment, Bahrain is the only country in the GCC that allows 100% foreign ownership.

Read the whole story here: albawaba.com middle east news information::Bahraini economy grows at healthy pace

tags: bahrain

May seem like a good idea now...esp. with strong demand, but I doubt if the effects on individual hotel RevPAR is going to be pretty! Bahrain also has quite a few properties in the works, including Four Seasons, Al Areen Desert Spa, Mariott, Rotana, Sofitel, etc...

Excerpt:
As many as 80 new hotels are being developed in the Gulf to accommodate an increasing flow of inbound traffic for business and leisure travellers.

In all over 25,000 rooms and suites will be added to the existing regional hotel room stock by 2008.

Read the whole article: The Tourism and Hospitality Diaries » Gulf region to house 80 new hotels by year 2008

tags: bahrain

Filipino workers have a great, growing opportunity in the Middle East, especially in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as the construction boom continues.

Excerpt from the press in the Phillipines:
"Citing a report of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said in a statement that a recent joint government-private sector marketing mission to the Middle East disclosed that construction projects have been booming in these countries particularly in Qatar, which is gearing for the Asian Games in December 2006."

Read the whole story here: DAILY STAR: Business

tags: bahrain

With the huge expat base from Kerala in the Middle East, Emirates Airlines is launching new cargo services and boosting existing links to places in the Indian State.

Excerpt:
On February 1, Emirates Skycargo will launch services to Thiruvananthapuram with eight weekly flights using a combination of Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 777-200 aircraft, the Dubai-based airline said in a statement.

Emirates Skycargo will now offer the cargo community around 135 tonnes of belly-hold capacity every week to Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai each, and 120 tonnes to Cochin. These capacities are also supplemented by Emirates Skycargo's Boeing 747-200F freighter, which flies to Chennai once a week offering a capacity of 105 tonnes.

Read the whole story here: Zee News - Emirates to boost cargo services to South India

tags: bahrain

Excerpt:
"BAHRAINIS waiting for kidney transplants are being urged not to risk going abroad for the operation. They could be buying their way into danger, says a leading Bahraini specialist. Patients may have to wait longer here, but it is worth it, says Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) nephrology and transplant unit head Dr Ahmed Al Arrayed."

Read the story by EUNICE del ROSARIO here: Gulf Daily News

tags: bahrain

As F1 2006 draws near, Gulf Air and the Bahrain International Circuit announce a roadshow to head to Beirut, Dubai, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

About the F1 - Excerpt:
Last year's event drew several international race champions, celebrities, dignitaries, VIPs and more than 50,000 spectators from around the world to Bahrain. It received overwhelming positive comments and popularity from every corner of the world. The plaudits from the FIA, the teams — especially the drivers — and visiting fans alike is that Bahrain is now a race that ranks high on the list of the F1 calendar.

Read the original story here: Khaleej Times Online

tags: F1_Bahrain