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The Lonely Planet describes Bahrain as "an excellent introduction to the Gulf" because of its authentic Arab heritage and reputation as relatively liberal and modern. The Kingdom combines authentic Arab culture, contemporary Gulf glitz and the archaeological legacy of five thousand years of civilisation. The ancient civilisation of Dilmun, which dominated trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilization, was centred in Bahrain. The inhabitants of Dilmun left behind settlements and temples and tens of thousands of burial mounds which dot the landscape. Dilmun prospered because it had fresh water, and it is this resource which has meant that Bahrain has long fought over by regional powers in a predominantly arid region. As a result, the island is home to many castles including the impressive Qalat Al Bahrain which was recently listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Bahrain National Museum has a wide-varied collection of artifacts from the Kingdom's history dating back to the island's first human inhabitation 9000 years ago. MP Adel Al-Mouwdah criticised
the sale of alcohol in hotels and restaurants, saying that the 'poison'
was attracting 'the wrong type of tourist' from Saudi Arabia where
alcohol is banned. Durrat Al Bahrain The US$1 billion Durrat Al Bahrain is named after the most perfect pearl and sets out to be a model 21st century city resort. The development will comprise of residential and tourism elements and will cover a 20-kilometre stretch of reclaimed desert and sea. The project resembles a necklace and will comprise of 13 islands – an arc of six atolls and five pearl-shaped islands; an island for a five-star resort and aqua park and a crescent-shaped island for a residential complex. Spread over 20 square kilometres, the development will include 13 different islands with over 2,000 villas, more than 3,000 apartments, luxury hotels, restaurants, promenades, shopping centres, spas and a proposed golf course among its many sports facilities. A 400-boat marina set in a lagoon is also planned. Amwaj Islands Work is continuing at a rapid pace on the Amwaj Islands project, a group of man-made islands less than two kilometres off the coast of Muharraq, which, once complete, promises to offer a combination of world-class residential neighbourhoods, commercial districts and spectacular resorts. The 2.8 million-square-metre Amwaj Islands will have a unifying architectural theme and will include the following components: • Al Marsa: ready-built canal-front villas; • Zawaya: Beautiful houses perched over the water’s edge; • Gateway: Spectacular apartments at the doorstep of the project; • Saraya Al Bahar: Designer villas on common or private beach; • Tala: Town-houses, villas and apartments in an exclusive gated neighbourhood setting, overlooking the tranquil Amwaj lagoon; • Meena 7: Stylish apartments on the seafront in the heart of the trendy Al Marsa village; and • Al Fanar Resort: hotel and recreational area to the west of the islands, which includes a 100-berth marina and retail centre. The first four-plus star beach hotel will have 300 rooms and a spacious banquet hall Amwaj Plaza and Marsa Floating City are other elements within the project. The commercial heart of the islands is centered on a lagoon, work on the wall of which is nearing completion, with the casting of concrete bollards to the top of the quay wall, as the final touch. The immediate area will accommodate a landscaped promenade that will offer panoramic views across the lagoon, which will be ringed by stylish waterfront cafes and restaurants. Design work is also under way on a marina and construction is expected to start in the third quarter of this year. Al Marsa Floating Island Al Marsa, which means 'jetty' or 'harbour' in Arabic is a floating island that is being built with an investment of US$70 million. On completion later this year, the island will have 274 canal houses, a 150-room hotel, time-share apartments, retail mall, restaurants and a yacht club. The artificial island, which is part of the Amwaj Islands project, will measure approximately 28,000 square metres and is designed to have a series of canals where boats can cruise and even park beside their own back garden where the level of water is maintained within 50 centimetres 'rise and fall' by a sector-lock gate located at the south entrance of the island adjacent to the proposed Yacht Club. Tala Island One of the components of the Amwaj Islands project, Tala Islands will encompass 136,000 square metres. The development, which costs US$110 million, will accommodate 48 beachfront villas, 42 two-storey, mid-size villas, as well as 410 apartments in 31 blocks (including 12 penthouses) and another 148 smaller apartments. The development will also include an aqua park, retail areas, a sports centre, tennis club and restaurants and coffee shops. External links
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Bahrain
is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East
with over two million tourists a year. Most of the visitors are
from Arab Gulf states but there is an increasing number of tourists
from outside the region thanks to a growing awareness of the Kingdom’s
rich heritage and its higher profile with regards to the Bahrain
Grand Prix.