Exploring Sakhir, Bahrain: A Desert Oasis Unveiled

Sakhir is a desert area located in the Southern Governorate of Bahrain, near Zallaq. It is home to the Bahrain International Circuit, which has hosted the annual Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix since 2004. The circuit is located about 32km south of Manama, the capital of Bahrain, and is easily accessible by car, taxi, or shuttle bus. Sakhir also boasts the Al-Sakhir Palace, built in 1870, and the Al Areen Wildlife Park, the only nature reserve and zoo located on land in Bahrain.

Bahrain International Circuit

The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue located in the Sakhir desert in the Southern Governorate of Bahrain. It was opened in 2004 and is used for drag racing, GP2 Series (now FIA Formula 2), and the annual Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix. The circuit is 5.412 km (3.363 mi) long and has six separate tracks, including a test oval and a drag strip. It is known for its unique problem of being positioned in the middle of a desert, which posed the challenge of keeping sand off the track. However, organizers were able to overcome this issue by spraying an adhesive on the sand around the track.

The construction of the Bahrain International Circuit was a national objective for Bahrain, initiated by the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also the Honorary President of the Bahrain Motor Federation. The circuit was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, who also designed the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The main contractor for the project was Cebarco-WCT, and it cost approximately 56.2 million Bahraini Dinars (US$150 million) to construct.

The first Bahrain Grand Prix took place on April 4, 2004, making history as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East. Bahrain competed with Egypt, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the privilege of hosting the race. The Bahrain Grand Prix is usually the third race on the Formula One calendar, except for a few exceptions. In 2020, the circuit hosted two Grands Prix, the Bahrain and Sakhir Grands Prix, due to revisions in the calendar following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bahrain International Circuit has received numerous accolades and hosted several prestigious events. In 2007, it became the first Grand Prix circuit to be awarded the distinguished FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award for its safety, race marshal, and medical facilities, as well as its high technological standards. The circuit has also hosted high-profile series such as the FIA Formula One World Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

Al-Sakhir Palace

Sheikh Hamad was very fond of the palace. He even travelled to England to buy plumbing fixtures and furniture for it. However, after his death at the palace in 1942, it was abandoned and remained locked and shuttered for decades as a sign of respect. The palace stood isolated for years, but after the discovery of oil in 1928, the island of Bahrain developed considerably in other areas. Painter Christine Rollitt visited Bahrain in the 1970s and painted the palace in 1977.

In the mid-1990s, the palace was restored to its former glory. Today, it is used for some of the most important occasions in Bahrain. For example, George W. Bush visited the palace on January 12, 2008, and received a welcoming sword ceremony in the courtyard. On March 12, 2011, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa met with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa at the palace.

The Al-Sakhir Palace is a traditional Islamic building, common in the Middle East, with white walls, grand arches and columns, a dome, and an imposing minaret. The palace's majlis is reportedly 40 feet (12 m) long.

University of Bahrain

The University of Bahrain, often abbreviated as UOB, is a public university in Bahrain established by royal decree in 1986. It is the largest institution of higher education in Bahrain, with three campuses (Sakhir, Isa Town, and Salmaniya) and more than 30,000 registered students. The main campus in Sakhir covers an area of 103657m2 and houses most of the colleges, with the exception of the Colleges of Health Science and Engineering, which are located on a separate campus next to the Salmaniya Medical Complex.

The University of Bahrain is made up of nine colleges: Arts, Applied Studies, Business Administration, Engineering, Health and Sport Sciences, Information Technology (IT), Law, Science, and the Bahrain Teachers' College. The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including bachelor's, master's, and PhD degrees, as well as associate diplomas. It also has a variety of facilities, including classrooms, labs, gymnasiums, and libraries. The Central Library, for example, has an estimated 250,000 books in stock and access to the British Library database.

The university is recognised not just for its size but also for its research output. Since its founding, academics at the University of Bahrain have published more than 5,000 research papers and books, with the Colleges of Science and Engineering contributing to 80% of this output. The university supports research by allocating US$11 million annually and providing support for full-time research staff.

The University of Bahrain is located in Sakhir, a desert area in the Southern Governorate of Bahrain, near Zallaq. Sakhir is known for several notable attractions, including the Al-Sakhir Palace, the Bahrain International Circuit, and the Al Areen Wildlife Park. The creation of the University of Bahrain's main campus in the early 2000s was one of the significant developments that transformed the area.

Al Areen Wildlife Park

The park has undergone multiple renovations, including the addition of an aviary and an Arabian wild animals complex. A falcon stadium and petting zoo were also opened in 2014. The park offers a bus tour that takes visitors through the different species of animals, birds, and plants in their natural environment. The best time to visit is from October to March, as it can get very hot during the summer months. The entrance fee is typically 1 Bahraini Dinar for adults, and there is also an option to hire electric cars for a closer look at the animals.

Reviews for the park are mixed. While some visitors enjoyed the variety of animals and the well-organised entrance, others criticised the limited number of animals and the crowdedness. Some reviewers also expressed concern over animal welfare, noting that some animals looked lethargic and sad, with insufficient water and space in their enclosures. Overall, Al Areen Wildlife Park offers a chance to see a variety of animals and learn about conservation, but there are also valid concerns about the well-being of the animals that need to be addressed.

Bahrain International Karting Circuit

The Bahrain International Karting Circuit (BIKC) is a world-class, history-making karting facility located in Sakhir, Bahrain. It is part of the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), which was opened in 2004 and is used for drag racing, GP2 Series, and the annual Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix. The BIC has multiple layouts and is the first Grand Prix circuit to be awarded the distinguished FIA Institute Centre of Excellence award for its safety, race marshal, and medical facilities.

The BIKC, opened in 2011, is a premier karting track that became the first in the world to host a world championship-level race at night. The track is 1.414km long with 14 turns, and is permitted to host several world championship events under the Commission Internationale de Karting-Federation International de l’Automobile (CIK-FIA). The venue offers a range of activities, from championships and Mini Grands Prix to off-track activities and driver training. It caters to both domestic and international drivers, as well as beginners and professionals.

BIKC has specific sessions for kids (aged 7-12) and adults (13+), with different types of karts available. Visitors are provided with a racing outfit, gloves, and a helmet, and there is a short instructional video before the start of each session. The venue is open every day throughout the year and offers a unique, adrenaline-filled experience for all ages.

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