Bahrain-Saudi Causeway: Open For Business Or Closed?

The King Fahd Causeway is a 25-kilometre roadway and bridge that links Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The causeway is a vital link between the two countries, with 88% of Bahrain's 11.1 million visitors arriving via the causeway in 2019. The causeway was closed in March 2020 as a precautionary measure to control the spread of COVID-19. It has since reopened, with strict protocols in place to limit the spread of the virus.

The King Fahd Causeway is 25km long

The King Fahd Causeway is a 25km-long bridge that connects 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 bridge is 25km long from the natural shoreline of Saudi Arabia to the natural shoreline of Bahrain. The causeway is made up of several embankments, artificial islands, and bridges. The longest single bridge is 5194m long.

The causeway starts in Saudi Arabia at Al-Aziziyyah, south of Al Khobar, and ends at Al-Jasra, west of Manama in Bahrain. It is divided into two segments: a longer bridge from Khobar to Nasan Island in Bahrain, and a shorter stretch from Nasan Island to the main island of Bahrain. The total cost of the project was US$800 million, and it was financed entirely by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The causeway was officially opened to the public in November 1986.

The causeway is pivotal to economic and tourism activities in both countries. In 2008, it served an average of 45,000 vehicles a day, increasing to about 60,000 vehicles during weekends. It was used by 17.7 million passengers in 2008. In 2016, the number of vehicles using the causeway was about 45,000 on weekdays and up to 60,000 on weekends, with a total of 17.7 million passengers crossing the causeway that year.

A $5 million expansion to the causeway was announced in July 2010, which aimed to increase the number of departure and arrival lanes on both sides. The expansion included the construction of two 400,000m² artificial islands, one on either side of the causeway, and a new commercial centre on the Bahraini side. The expansion was expected to increase the passenger handling capacity of the causeway to 100 million a year.

The causeway is a key trade route between the two countries

The King Fahd Causeway is a vital trade route between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The 25km-long bridge is a key trade artery in the Gulf region, supporting a significant volume of trade between the two countries. In 2019, Bahrain welcomed 11 million visitors, the majority of whom were from Saudi Arabia. The causeway is also used by Saudis and foreign workers in Saudi Arabia who travel to Bahrain for goods and activities unavailable in their own country.

The causeway has played an important role in facilitating the growth of e-commerce trade in the Gulf during the Covid-19 pandemic. Bahrain Customs has installed AI scanners at the causeway, automating data collection and allowing shipment inspections before trucks reach the border. This technology has been instrumental in supporting the logistics sector during the pandemic.

The causeway was closed for a period during the pandemic as part of precautionary measures to control the spread of the virus. It reopened in July 2020 with strict protocols in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The daily average number of travellers across the causeway is 75,000 passengers.

The bridge is also a popular tourist attraction, with travellers commenting on the stunning views and communal feel on either side. The drive takes around 30 minutes on a good day, and there are restaurants and other amenities available on the middle island.

It closed in March 2020 as a Covid precaution

The King Fahd Causeway, a 25-kilometre roadway and bridge, is a crucial link between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. It facilitates not just tourism but also significant economic activity between the two countries.

Closure as a Covid Precaution

In March 2020, the world was in the grip of a pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. As countries scrambled to contain the spread of the virus, Saudi Arabia implemented a series of precautionary measures, including the closure of the King Fahd Causeway. On March 7, 2020, the causeway was shut down, barring the daily stream of travellers and tourists between the two countries. This closure was part of the initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak and aimed to limit the movement of people to prevent the virus's transmission.

The closure had a significant impact on travel and trade. Before the pandemic, an average of 75,000 passengers crossed the causeway daily, with Bahrain receiving 11 million visitors in 2019, most of them from Saudi Arabia. The causeway was also a vital trade artery, supporting a large volume of trade between the two kingdoms. The closure disrupted the usual flow of people and goods, contributing to the challenges faced by both countries during the pandemic.

Reopening and Recovery

The King Fahd Causeway remained closed for an extended period as the pandemic unfolded. However, as vaccination rates increased and Covid-19 restrictions began to ease, the causeway eventually reopened on July 23, 2020. This reopening was a welcome development for travellers and businesses alike. Strict protocols were implemented to prevent the spread of the virus, including the use of artificial intelligence scanners by Bahrain Customs to streamline shipment inspections.

The resumption of travel across the causeway boosted economic activity and tourism in the region. With the causeway accessible again, trade between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain surged. In the third quarter of 2020, non-oil trade between the two countries increased by 43%, reflecting the importance of this roadway in facilitating commerce and connectivity in the Gulf region.

It reopened in July 2020 with strict Covid protocols

The King Fahd Causeway, which connects Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, is a vital transport link between the two countries. It was closed on March 7, 2020, as a precautionary measure to control the spread of the coronavirus.

The causeway finally reopened on July 23, 2020, with strict Covid protocols in place. The reopening was a welcome development for both countries, as the causeway is instrumental to economic and tourism activities in the region. In fact, in 2019, Bahrain welcomed 11 million visitors, the majority of whom were from Saudi Arabia, and 88% of these visitors entered the country via the King Fahd Causeway.

The reopening of the causeway was part of a wider easing of Covid-19 restrictions in both countries. Saudi Arabia announced that its citizens in Bahrain could return via the causeway without prior permission, but they had to comply with the precautionary measures in force in the kingdom.

The causeway's closure had a significant impact on trade between the two countries. With the reopening, trade restrictions were eased, and cargo transit was able to resume. This led to a surge in bilateral commerce, with non-oil trade increasing by 43% in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

The King Fahd Causeway Authority also implemented a development and improvement plan for both sides of the causeway. This included the installation of artificial intelligence scanners by Bahrain Customs, which automated data collection and allowed for shipment inspections before reaching the border. Additionally, work was underway to introduce an e-payment system for the causeway gates.

The reopening of the King Fahd Causeway was a positive step towards restoring the economic and tourism activities that rely on this vital transport link between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The daily average number of travellers is 75,000 passengers

The King Fahd Causeway is a vital 25km-long roadway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The causeway is a key trade artery in the Gulf region, and it is also important for tourism.

The daily average number of travellers across the causeway is 75,000 passengers. This number is made up of a combination of tourists, commercial drivers, and Saudi and foreign workers travelling between the two countries.

The causeway is particularly busy on weekends, when Saudi citizens and foreign workers in Saudi Arabia tend to visit Bahrain for goods and services unavailable in their own country. In 2019, Bahrain welcomed 11 million visitors, the majority of whom were from Saudi Arabia. The causeway's passenger capacity has been increased by 45% following a renovation project.

The causeway also supports a huge amount of trade between the two countries. In the third quarter of 2020, non-oil trade between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain increased by 43% to $688 million. The causeway has played an important role in facilitating the growth of e-commerce in the Gulf during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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