Bahrain Causeway: Open For Business Or Closed Off?

The King Fahd Causeway is a 25km-long bridge that connects Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The causeway was inaugurated in 1986 and has been vital for the movement of people between the two countries. The drive takes around 30 minutes on a good day. In 2020, the causeway was shut as part of measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus but was reopened in July of the same year.

The King Fahd Causeway is 25km long

The King Fahd Causeway is a 25km-long bridge connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It is a four-lane road featuring two roadways, each 11.6m wide with two lanes running in opposite directions. The causeway is made up of five bridges, totalling 12.43km in length. The first three bridges, measuring 934m, 2,034m and 5,194m in length, are on the Saudi side, while the remaining two bridges on the Bahraini side measure 3,334m and 934m. The bridges are interconnected by islands and dams, with around 12.5km of the causeway constructed as a dam.

The causeway also has seven embankments extending 12.57km in length. A 660,000m² border station at embankment no. 4 is the largest among all. Designed as two connected islands, the border station includes two mosques, two 65m-high tower restaurants, buildings of the King Fahd Causeway Authority and other government directorates, and two coastguard towers. The island on the west side is designated to Saudi Arabia, while the island on the east side is designated to Bahrain.

The King Fahd Causeway was constructed between 1982 and 1986 at a total cost of US$800 million. It was built by Dutch contractor Ballast Nedam and is financed entirely by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The causeway officially opened to the public in November 1986 and serves an average of 45,000 vehicles a day, increasing to about 60,000 vehicles during weekends.

It links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

The King Fahd Causeway is a 24 to 25-kilometre-long bridge that links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It is a roadway-bridge that consists of multiple-dike bridges interconnected by artificial islands and dams. It is a vital transport link between the two countries and has been open since 1986.

The causeway is a four-lane highway that passes over the Gulf of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. It is used heavily on weekends when Saudi and foreign workers in Saudi Arabia travel to Bahrain for goods and activities unavailable in Saudi Arabia. The causeway is also used by tourists who want to take a closer look at the link or view Saudi Arabia in the distance.

The causeway is named after King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and was financed by the country. It usually takes around 30 minutes to drive across, and there is a toll to use it. There are restaurants and other amenities on the middle island, where the border is located.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the King Fahd Causeway was closed in March 2020 as part of measures to fight the spread of the virus. It reopened in late July 2020 as Gulf countries eased virus-related measures to support their economies.

The causeway was inaugurated in 1986

The King Fahd Causeway, a 25km-long bridge connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, was inaugurated on 26 November 1986 in the presence of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Emir of Bahrain. The bridge was named after King Fahd.

The causeway consists of five bridges resting on 536 concrete pylons, with seven embankments in the Gulf's shallower waters. The project cost a total of US$800 million (SAR3 billion) and was constructed using 350,000 cubic metres of concrete and 147,000 metric tonnes of reinforced steel. The four-lane road is 25km long and 11.6m wide.

The causeway has improved travel between the two countries, with the drive taking around 30 minutes on a good day. However, it can get crowded in the afternoons and evenings, leading to long queues. The views from the causeway are impressive, offering a unique perspective of the sky meeting the water.

The King Fahd Causeway has played a significant role in strengthening the cultural and social bonds between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It has also contributed to the economic development of the region, facilitating trade and the movement of goods and people between the two countries.

It's a multiple-dike bridge

The King Fahd Causeway is a 25km-long bridge that connects Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It is a multiple-dike bridge, consisting of a series of bridges interconnected by artificial islands and dams. The causeway was inaugurated in 1986 and has been vital for the movement of people between the two countries. The drive across the causeway takes around 30 minutes on a good day.

The causeway features border facilities, parking spaces, and restaurants on both the Saudi and Bahraini sides. There is also a small shopping and eating area in the middle of the causeway, before customs/immigration, where travellers can turn around and go back if they do not have the necessary visas. The causeway offers beautiful views of the water and vast vistas on both sides.

In terms of procedures, passengers arriving through the King Fahd Causeway are required to undergo a PCR test for COVID-19, which costs 60 dinars. All arrivals must also download and register on the "Be Aware" application. Those who have done a PCR test within 72 hours before their arrival can present a negative result on the app and do not need to undergo a new test. Bahrain has urged all passengers to abide by precautionary measures, including social distancing, wearing face masks, and avoiding gatherings.

The King Fahd Causeway is a significant link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, facilitating travel and trade between the two countries. It is a multiple-dike bridge that offers a quick and convenient way to travel between the two nations.

Travellers must undergo a PCR test to cross

The King Fahd Causeway, a 25km-long bridge, connects Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The causeway is open, and travellers can cross it by road. However, it is usually crowded in the afternoon until late at night, and there are often long queues. The drive takes around 30 minutes on a good day, so travellers should ensure they have sufficient water and fuel. There is a toll to cross the causeway, which is 2.5 BD from the Bahrain side and SAR 25 from the Saudi side.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bahrain implemented entry procedures for passengers using the King Fahd Causeway. As part of these procedures, all arrivals must undergo a PCR test at the causeway at a cost of 60 dinars. Travellers must self-isolate until they receive a negative test result. Those who have taken a PCR test within 72 hours before their arrival in Bahrain can present a negative result on the "Be Aware" app and do not need to take another test.

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