Business contacts
Cell phone Bahrain has a GSM mobile network. The two operators are Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunications Company, Tel: 1788 1111, website: www.batelco. com) and MTC-Vodafone (Tel: 3610 7107, website: www.mtc-vodafone.com. bh). Pre-paid SIM starter cards can be obtained from Batelco Customer Service Centres and MTC-Vodafone starter cards are available at major mobile equipment stores and their customer service centres. Both require proof of identity to activate the connections.
Taxis can be ordered from Radio Meter Taxi (Tel: 1768 2999, Fax: 1768 1000). Car/limousine hire This is available from Avis (City office Tel: 1753 1144, Fax: 1753 1441; Airport Tel: 1732 1239, Fax: 1732 1215; email: avis@batelco.com. bh, website: www.avisbahrain.com.bh), Budget (Sheraton office Tel: 1753 4100, Fax: 1753 5402; Airport Tel: 1732 1268; email: info@fahro.com, website: www. budgetbahrain.com), Europcar (Airport Tel: 1732 4429, Fax: 1732 1999; city office Tel: 1768 1999/2999, Fax: 1768 1000; email: speedy@batelco.com.bh, website: www.speedymotors.com).
Serviced office hire Al Dana Business Centre, located at Bahrain International Airport, has a conference room which can accommodate 20 people and a private room that can take six (Tel: 1733 9003, 1732 1076, 1732 1166, Fax: 1733 9033, 1732 1995, email: danamna@batelco.com. bh, website: www.bahrainairport.com). Aldoseri Business Centre is near the Diplomatic Area (Box 3, No. 1 Government Avenue, Tel: 1753 6222, Fax: 1753 6333). Or try Business Centre Management (Tel: 1753 2111).
Local press
The Gulf Daily News (www.gulf-daily-news.com) and Bahrain Tribune (www. bahraintribune.com) are the two English-language newspapers available in Bahrain. The World News Network’s Bahrain Post is also available to read online (http:// bahrainpost.com/). Gulfweekly is one of several publications dealing with the dynamics of Bahrain life.
Internet
Bahrain has only one ISP, Batelco, which is government-run. Wi-fi access is available at Bahrain International Airport Private Lounge. Ashrafs Stores has a coffee shop in Hoora that has free internet access (closed Friday, Tel: 1753 4439).
Money
The official currency of Bahrain is the Dinar (BD), which is linked to the US dollar at a fixed rate ($1 = 0.377 BD). One Bahraini Dinar consists of 1,000 fils, and notes are available in denominations of 500 fils and one to 20 Dinar. All major credit cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops all over Bahrain. Currency exchange facilities are available at all banks and at exchange outlets and there are no restrictions on the import and export of currency. Banks operate from Saturday to Thursday. However, a few banks are additionally closed on Saturdays.
The big shopping sales take place twice a year, in June and December. During Ramadan, many shops also offer good discounts.
Tipping etiquette
Tipping is warmly welcomed in taxis, hotels, restaurants and bars. Most of the restaurants add a service charge of 10% to 15%, but that does not go to the serving staff. Usual practice is to give another 10% of the bill as a tip directly to the waiter.
Visa/vaccination
Visitors from certain countries can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport. Citizens from the countries listed: Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Japan, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, USA, Portugal, Malaysia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Greece, Monaco, San Marino, Singapore, Brunei, Vatican, Andorra, China and Thailand; can get a visa issued from access points inside the country for a period of two weeks and this may be extended for another two weeks. The same type of visa will be issued to citizens of the former Soviet Union (Tajikistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Georgia) provided they arrive from Moscow on an Aeroflot or Gulf Air flight. For a longer stay, the visa needs to be pre-arranged and will probably require a request from a local sponsor. Note: a visa will not be issued to anyone who has an Israeli stamp in their passport. There is also a system of applying for visas through the internet, recently introduced by the Bahrain immigration department. For more information, visit the website at www.evisa.gov.bh.
There are no vaccination requirements for visiting Bahrain.
Public holidays
All government offices are closed on Thursdays and Fridays. If a holiday falls on these days, a compensatory day off is given on the next working day. Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar, therefore the dates vary every year.
1st January — New Year’s Day
20th January — Arafth
10th-12th January 2006 — Eid al-Adha
31st January 2006 — Al Hijra (Islamic New Year)
11th April 2006 — Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
1st May — Labour Day
3rd-5th November 2005, 23rd-25th October 2006 — Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan)
16th-17th December — National days
Weather and climate
Bahrain’s climate is hot in summer and mild in winter. From November to April it is generally pleasant, with temperatures from 15C to 24C. December to March are the coolest period because this is when northerly winds prevail. From July to September temperatures average 36C with high humidity.