Bahrain's Geography: Landlocked Or Coastal Country?

Bahrain is a small country in the southern Persian Gulf, comprising a cluster of islands, including the main island, Al Bahrayn, and some smaller islands and islets. It is an archipelago of 33 islands, although this number has increased since the turn of the millennium due to land reclamation projects. Bahrain is bordered by Saudi Arabia and Qatar and shares maritime borders with Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. As Bahrain is an island nation with no land borders, it is definitely not landlocked.

Bahrain is an archipelago of islands

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small country, covering an area of 780 km squared, making it slightly larger than Singapore. The capital and largest city is Manama, located on the main island, and the country's highest point is Jabal ad Dukhan, at 134m. Bahrain has a population of 1.58 million people, including over 780,000 non-nationals. The country has a predominantly Muslim population, with a mix of Shia and Sunni Muslims.

The archipelago is connected to the Arabian Peninsula and the Saudi city of Al Khobar by the King Fahd Causeway, an artificial link constructed between 1981 and 1986. The causeway is 16 miles long and carries approximately 25,000 vehicles per day. The border between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is located on the artificially constructed Middle Island, roughly halfway along the causeway.

In addition to the main island, Bahrain includes several smaller islands and islets. The exact number of islands in the archipelago is unclear, with sources citing either 33 or 84, due to land reclamation projects increasing the number of islands since the turn of the millennium. One of the larger islands, Umm an Nasan, is privately owned by the Bahraini royal family and is off-limits to ordinary citizens.

As a cluster of islands, Bahrain has a unique geography and is not landlocked. With its coastal location and proximity to the Persian Gulf, it has access to the sea and maritime trade routes, which have played a significant role in the country's history and economy.

Bahrain is not landlocked

A country is considered landlocked when it is surrounded on all sides by one or more countries and has no direct access to the ocean. Bahrain, being an archipelago, has no countries bordering it on any side and has easy access to the Persian Gulf. The King Fahd Causeway, a series of bridges and causeways, connects Bahrain with the Arabian Peninsula, with the border located roughly halfway along the highway.

Bahrain is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and is an island country in the Persian Gulf. The small island nation covers an area of 780 sq km, making it slightly larger than Singapore. The capital and largest city is Manama, and the main language is Arabic. Bahrain is an independent nation that gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.

The country has a predominantly Muslim population, with about 70% Shia and 30% Sunni Muslims. Bahrain is also known for its ancient history, dating back to the Dilmun civilisation that thrived in the region from the fourth to the ninth century BC. It has a subtropical climate, desert vegetation, and is known for its date palms and camels.

Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway

Bahrain is a small island country in the southern Persian Gulf, comprising around 30 islands in total. It is not landlocked, as it has access to the sea and no countries enclose it. Instead, Bahrain is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the east and Qatar to the north.

The King Fahd Causeway is a series of bridges and causeways that connect Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The causeway is 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) long and features two 12-metre-wide double lanes, separated by one metre. The project to build the King Fahd Causeway began in 1954, when King Saud of Saudi Arabia visited Bahrain and expressed his wish to nurture and solidify the bonds between the two countries. Construction began in 1981 and was completed in 1986. The causeway cost a total of US$800 million (SAR3 billion) to build.

The causeway connects Khobar in Saudi Arabia to Al Jasra in Bahrain. It spans long stretches of sea and reclaimed land, with five bridges resting on 536 concrete pylons and seven embankments in the Gulf's shallower waters. One of these embankments, known as Middle Island, has been converted into an artificial island with customs and immigration facilities, a mosque, gardens, and fast-food restaurants. The causeway features a four-lane road and was built using 350,000 cubic metres of concrete and 147,000 metric tonnes of reinforced steel.

The King Fahd Causeway is a significant link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with an estimated 25,104 vehicles using the causeway daily. In 2010, the total number of travellers across the causeway was 19.1 million passengers, averaging 52,450 passengers per day. The causeway has improved travel and trade connections between the two countries and is a popular route for Saudis and foreign workers in Saudi Arabia to visit Bahrain on the weekends.

Bahrain is bordered by Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia

Bahrain is an archipelago in the southern Persian Gulf, consisting of a small group of islands. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the east and Qatar to the west. The Kingdom of Bahrain is officially an island country, and as such, it is not landlocked.

Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway, a series of bridges and causeways. The country also shares maritime borders with Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain's population is approximately 1.5 million, with the capital and largest city, Manama, home to most of the population. The country's economy has historically relied on processing crude oil from neighbouring countries, but more recently, the financial, commercial services, and communications sectors have grown significantly, as has tourism.

Bahrain has a complex history of rulers and foreign influence. It has been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family since 1783, with the current king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, at the helm. Bahrain was a protectorate of the United Kingdom until it gained independence in 1971.

The country has experienced political upheaval in recent years, with protests inspired by the Arab Spring in 2011 and a failed coup attempt in 1981, allegedly backed by Iran. Bahrain has had strained relations with Iran due to various geopolitical issues, including the interpretation of Islam and relations with Western countries. However, in 2024, Bahrain restored diplomatic relations with Iran.

Bahrain is the third smallest country in Asia

Bahrain is an island country in the Persian Gulf, located east of Saudi Arabia and north of Qatar. It is an archipelago consisting of the main island, Al Bahrayn, and several smaller islands and islets. With an area of just 780 square kilometres, it is the third smallest country in Asia. To put that into perspective, it is slightly larger than Singapore and around 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC.

Bahrain is not landlocked. As an island nation, it has no land borders with other countries, and it has immediate access to the ocean. In fact, Bahrain is connected to its neighbour, Saudi Arabia, by the King Fahd Causeway, a 16-mile highway constructed between 1981 and 1986. This causeway carries around 25,000 vehicles per day and includes an artificial island at its midpoint, aptly named Middle Island, which houses the border between the two countries.

The capital of Bahrain is Manama, which is also its largest city. The country has a population of around 1.58 million people, including over 800,000 non-nationals. Bahrain has a predominantly Muslim population, with a mix of Shia and Sunni Muslims. The main language is Arabic, and the country has a subtropical climate and desert vegetation.

Bahrain's small size has presented challenges and opportunities throughout its history. It has had to navigate delicate foreign affairs with its larger neighbours and has faced economic challenges due to declining oil reserves. However, it has also successfully diversified its economy, investing in the banking and tourism sectors.

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