Middle East and North Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The  WHO website has further details. Check swine flu for further information.
  
  
• The general threat from terrorism in Bahrain remains. Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on Western interests, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.
  
  
• You should maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places. You should avoid large gathering and demonstrations, a number of which have turned violent.
  
  
• 29 British nationals required consular assistance in Bahrain in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (13 cases); hospitalisations (3 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (9 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (29 cases).
  
  
• Bahrain operates a zero tolerance to drink/driving and views all alcohol-related incidents dimly. Even travellers transiting Bahrain who are clearly intoxicated can be denied boarding and are detained and fined by Bahraini Public Security.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details.