Bahrain-Saudi Arabia Causeway: A Unique Connection

The Kingdom of Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway, a 25km-long series of bridges and causeways. The causeway links Khobar in Saudi Arabia to Al Jasra in Bahrain, with the road on the Saudi side beginning just south of Al Khobar and ending near Manama, Bahrain's capital city. The construction of the causeway began in 1982 and was completed in 1986. It took more than 30 years from the initial idea to the completion of the project. The King Fahd Causeway has improved the relationship between the two countries and has helped them economically and politically.

The King Fahd Causeway is a 25km-long bridge connecting the two countries

The Kingdom of Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway, a 25km-long bridge. The causeway is a feat of engineering, with five bridges and seven artificial islands. It took over 30 years to go from idea to completion.

The King Fahd Causeway was first envisioned in the 1950s when King Saud of Saudi Arabia visited Bahrain and expressed a desire to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. In 1965, the Prime Minister of Bahrain and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia agreed that a bridge would be the best way to achieve this.

Numerous committees, experts, and ministers worked on the project between 1968 and 1982, including a delegation from the World Bank. Construction began in 1982 and the causeway was officially opened to the public in November 1986. The project cost a total of $800 million (SAR3 billion).

The King Fahd Causeway has provided an important road link between the two countries, with over 25,000 vehicles crossing the bridge each day. The road on the Saudi side begins just south of Al Khobar and ends near Manama, Bahrain's capital. The causeway has made it easier for people to live in one country and commute to the other for work, as well as facilitating day trips and tourism between the two countries.

The causeway features customs and passport control on its fourth and largest island. There are fast-food restaurants on the Saudi side, and visitors can explore the Bahrain National Museum and the Al Fateh Mosque in Manama on the Bahraini side.

The bridge was built to strengthen bilateral relations and has helped both countries economically and politically

The King Fahd Causeway, a 25-kilometre-long series of bridges and causeways, connects Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The bridge was built to strengthen bilateral relations and has helped both countries economically and politically.

The idea of a bridge linking the two countries was first proposed during a state visit by King Saud of Saudi Arabia to Bahrain in the 1950s. The King wished to solidify the relationship between the two nations, and a bridge was seen as an ideal way to achieve this. Over ten years later, during another state visit, the Prime Minister of Bahrain and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia officially agreed to move forward with the project.

The bridge was built to foster stronger cultural and social bonds between the two countries. It has improved regional defence and has been beneficial to both countries economically and politically. The causeway provides an important road link, with thousands of vehicles crossing the bridge daily, and it has made it easier for people to live in one country and commute to the other for work. It has also facilitated day trips and strengthened bilateral trade.

The construction of the King Fahd Causeway took more than 30 years, from the initial idea to the completion of the project. Numerous committees, experts, and ministers worked together to establish a project plan for this massive undertaking, and the World Bank was also involved. The bridge was officially opened to the public in November 1986 and has been serving as a vital link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia ever since.

The King Fahd Causeway is not just a marvel of engineering but also a symbol of the strengthened relationship between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It has played a significant role in enhancing bilateral relations, economic growth, and regional defence, showcasing the dedication of both countries to fostering a strong and collaborative partnership.

The Qatar-Bahrain Causeway was planned to connect Qatar and Bahrain, with the latter's ties to Saudi Arabia stalling the project

The Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, also known as the Qatar-Bahrain Friendship Bridge, is a planned causeway connecting Qatar and Bahrain. The link between the two countries would be approximately 40km (25mi) in length and would support both a road and a railway. The causeway would consist of 18km (11mi) of artificial dikes and 22km (14mi) of viaducts and bridges, with a maximum height of 40m (131ft) to allow maritime navigation. The eastern end of the causeway in Qatar would be located at Ras Ashairij, 5km (3mi) south of the city of Zubarah, and the opposite end would link north of Askar in Bahrain. The project was first planned in September 2001 and approved for construction in February 2005. A formal agreement between the two countries was signed in June 2006, and construction was scheduled to start in early 2009 with a projected cost of US$2.3 billion. However, as of June 2015, construction had not started, and the project was on hold due to the Qatar diplomatic crisis and Bahrain's alignment with Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have a strong connection, strengthened by the construction of the King Fahd Causeway, which links the two countries. The causeway, consisting of a series of bridges and causeways, is approximately 25km (15.5mi) long and was completed in 1986. The idea of building a bridge between the two countries was first proposed in 1954 during a visit by King Saud to Bahrain, with the aim of fostering stronger ties between the two kingdoms. The project officially began in 1965 when the Prime Minister of Bahrain, Sheikh Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah, visited King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. The causeway has had a significant impact on the Bahraini economy and has improved bilateral relations and regional defence.

Due to Bahrain's close ties with Saudi Arabia, the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway project faced challenges. In June 2015, the project was stalled, and the contracting consortium was demobilising. Despite Bahrain's Foreign Minister emphasising the importance of the bridge for economic connectivity, financial constraints and diplomatic tensions delayed the project further. In December 2012, Bahrain's Foreign Minister indicated that the bridge construction would only be completed before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In November 2023, the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway project was revived during a meeting between Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. They instructed their respective administrations to move forward with the project. On February 22, 2024, officials from both sides agreed to restructure the board of the project as part of its implementation, indicating a renewed commitment to the causeway's construction.

The King Fahd Causeway has an average of 45,000 vehicles crossing daily, increasing to 60,000 during weekends

The King Fahd Causeway is a 25-26 km long series of bridges and causeways that connects Khobar, Saudi Arabia, to Al Jasra, Bahrain. It is a marvel of engineering, with five bridges resting on 536 concrete pylons and seven embankments in the Gulf's shallower water. The construction of this causeway has strengthened the relationship between the two countries and has helped them economically and politically.

The King Fahd Causeway serves an average of 45,000 vehicles a day, with that number increasing to about 60,000 during weekends. It is the main route for people who live in one country and commute to the other for work, as well as for those who want to take a day trip. The road on the Saudi Arabian side of the causeway begins just south of Al Khobar and ends near Manama, Bahrain's capital city. The causeway features fantastic sea views across the Gulf of Bahrain and towards Al Khobar or Manama, depending on the direction of travel.

Traffic on the causeway can be heavy, especially during rush hour and on weekends, so it is advisable to check local traffic news before embarking on a journey. Customs and passport control are located on the fourth and largest island, with fast-food restaurants available on the Saudi side. The causeway also includes two mosques, two coast guard towers, and two 65-metre-high tower restaurants.

The King Fahd Causeway has played a significant role in improving the cultural and social bonds between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and its construction was a realisation of a long-held ambition to solidify the relationship between the two kingdoms.

The bridge consists of five bridges and seven artificial islands, with the fourth island being designated for customs and passport control

The Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are connected by the King Fahd Causeway, a 25km-long series of bridges and causeways. The causeway, which took over 30 years to complete, consists of five bridges and seven artificial islands. The fourth and largest island is designated for customs and passport control.

The idea for the causeway was first proposed in the 1950s by King Saud of Saudi Arabia during a state visit to Bahrain. The King wished to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, and a bridge between them was seen as a way to achieve this. Over ten years later, the Prime Minister of Bahrain and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia officially agreed to move forward with the project. Numerous committees, experts, and ministers worked on the project plan between 1968 and 1982, and construction began in 1982. The King Fahd Causeway was officially inaugurated in November 1986.

The causeway has improved travel and trade between the two countries. It has made it easier for people to live in one country and commute to the other for work, and it has also become a popular day trip for residents of both countries. The road on the Saudi Arabian side of the causeway begins just south of Al Khobar and ends near Bahrain's capital city, Manama. The causeway offers stunning sea views, including glimpses of the cities of Al Khobar and Manama.

The fourth island, also known as Passport Island or Middle Island, is the largest of the seven islands. It houses the necessary border control facilities for both countries, including two mosques, two coast guard towers, and two 65-metre-high tower restaurants. The island is designed as two connected islands, with the west side designated for Saudi Arabia and the east side for Bahrain.

Frequently asked questions