Editing Transport in Bahrain

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[[File:Un-bahrain.png|thumb|right|300px|Transport layout of [[Bahrain]]]]
[[File:Bahrain Highway TrunkLink.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A [[trunk highway]] in [[Manama]]]]
'''Transport in [[Bahrain]]''' encompasses [[road transportation]] by [[car]], [[air transportation]] and [[shipping]].

The country traditionally had one of the cheapest prices for gasoline at $0.78 per gallon ($0.21 per litre).<ref>{{cite journal| url = http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2011/0913/World-s-cheapest-gas-Top-5-countries/Bahrain-0.78-per-gallon-0.21-per-liter| title = Bahrain- $0.78 per gallon ($0.21 per liter) - CSMonitor.com| journal = [[The Christian Science Monitor]]| date = 13 September 2011}} </ref> Due to massive budgetary deficits and low oil prices, the Bahraini government increased the price of gasoline in 2016–2017 to $0.37 per litre.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bahrain raises petrol prices for first time in 33 years as oil price nosedives |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/bahrain-raises-petrol-prices-first-time-33-years-oil-price-nosedives |access-date=13 October 2019 |work=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref>

== Road transport == 
The widening of roads in the old districts of Manama and the development of a national network linking the capital to other settlements commenced as early as the arrival of the first [[car]] in 1914.<ref name=Yasser>{{cite book|last=Elsheshtawy|first=Yasser|title=The evolving Arab city: tradition, modernity and urban development|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1134128211|pages=198|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O8Zz-2AtuIwC&q=manama&pg=PA198|date=2008-05-27}}</ref>  Due to the continuous increase in the number of cars, a series of [[ring roads]] were constructed in Bahrain, notably Isa Al Kabeer Avenue in the 1930s, Exhibition Avenue in the 1960s and Al Fateh Highway in the 1980s.<ref name=Yasser/> To the north, the foreshore used to be around ''Government Avenue'' in the 1920s but it shifted to a new road, ''King Faisal Road'', in the early 1930s which became the coastal road.<ref name=Yasser/> To the east, a bridge connected Manama to Muharraq since 1929, a new causeway was built in 1941 which replaced the old wooden bridge.<ref name=Yasser/> Vehicle movement between the two islands peaked after the construction of the [[Bahrain International Airport]] in 1932.<ref name=Yasser/>

To the south of Manama, roads connected groves, lagoons and marshes of [[Hoora]], [[Adliya]], [[Gudaibiya]] and [[Juffair]].<ref name=Yasser/> Villages such as [[Mahooz]], [[Ghuraifa]], [[Seqaya]] served as the end of these roads. To the west, a major growth in the number of vehicle ma from 3,379 in 1954 and to 18,372 cars in 1970<ref name=Yasser/> caused [[urban development]] to primarily focus on expanding the road network, widening [[carriageways]] and the establishment of more parking spaces.<ref name=Yasser/> Many tracks previously laid in the pre-oil era (prior to the 1930s) were resurfaced and widened, turning them into 'road arteries'. Initial widening of the roads started in the [[Manama Souq]] district, widening its main roads by demolishing encroaching houses.<ref name=Yasser/>A highway was built that linked Manama to the isolated village port of [[Budaiya]],<ref name=Yasser/> this highway crossed through the '[[green belt]]' villages of [[Sanabis]], [[Jidhafs]] and [[Duraz]].<ref name=Yasser/> To the south, a road was built that connected Manama to [[Riffa]]. The discovery of oil accelerated the growth of the city's road network.<ref name=Yasser/>
[[File:MOW second crossing.JPG|thumb|230px|The bridge connecting [[Manama]] to [[Muharraq]].]]
The four main islands and all the towns and villages are linked by well-constructed roads.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} There were {{convert|4122|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} of roadways {{As of|2010|lc=y}}, of which {{convert|3392|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} were paved.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=September 8, 2021|title=Bahrain|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bahrain/|access-date=2021-09-22|website=[[The World Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}}}</ref> Multiple [[causeway]]s stretching over {{convert|2.8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}, connect Manama with [[Muharraq Island]], and the [[Sitra Causeway]] joins [[Sitra]] to the main island. A four-lane highway atop a {{convert|24|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} [[causeway]], linking [[Bahrain]] with the [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabian]] mainland via the island of [[Umm an-Nasan]] was completed in December, 1986, and financed by [[Saudi Arabia]].

Private vehicles and taxis are the primary means of transportation in the city.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Bahrain changed from [[Driving on the left or right|driving on the left]] to driving on the right in November 1967.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8v1CAQAAIAAJ&q=%22driving+on+the+right+was+effected+smoothly%22 ''Bahrain Government Annual Reports''], Times of India Press, 1968, page 158</ref>
[[File:King Fahd causeway satellite.png|thumb|The [[King Fahd Causeway]] as seen from space]]

=== International highways ===

* [[King Fahd Causeway]], measuring {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} connects Bahrain and [[Saudi Arabia]] through a [[Dike (construction)|multiple-dike]] [[bridge]].
* [[Qatar–Bahrain Friendship Bridge]], will be {{convert|45|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} long, connecting Bahrain and [[Qatar]] as the longest fixed link in the world, consisting both roads and [[List of road-rail bridges|railway]].

== Railways ==
[[File:Hamad Bin Isa Causeway.png|thumb|The first bridges connecting Manama to Muharraq, the Hamad Bin Isa Causeway.]]

As of 2025, there were no [[railway]]s in Bahrain, but plans were developing for a railway system connecting all the countries in the [[Persian Gulf]]<ref>[[Railway Gazette International]] January 2009 p21 with Map</ref> and for a [[Bahrain light rail network|light rail network]] within Bahrain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meed.com/sectors/transport/rail/bahrain-awaits-budget-approval-for-light-rail-study/3083208.article|access-date=2011-02-20|title=Bahrain awaits budget approval for light rail study}}</ref> A subway system has also been proposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mybahrain.net/viewtravelnews.asp?ID=789|access-date=2011-02-20|title=Subway railway system planned for Bahrain - Bahrain News Manama}}</ref> In August 2018, ''[[Al Ayam (Bahrain)|Al-Ayam]]'' reported that transportation officials in Bahrain were looking for "bids to fund a new metro railway system in the fourth quarter of 2019." There were plans for the rail to be international, connecting to local railway systems in the [[UAE]] and [[Saudi Arabia]]. According to [[Ehsan Bayat]], Bahrain's system will contribute {{Convert|36|km|abbr=on}} to the network. The project is to be completed in four phases over four years and cost $1–2 billion, as a joint venture between the public and private sector. It will be a {{Convert|109|km|abbr=on}} railway system, and the first in Bahrain.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://ameinfo.com/transportation/what-a-metro-could-mean-for-bahrains-future/ |title = Business Real Estate News &#124; Technology &#124; Travel Guide}}</ref> It will be called the GCC Railway, linking all six Gulf States. Along with private funders, it will be funded by the  Ministry of Transportation in KSA and King Fahad Causeway Authority.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.transportation.gov.bh/content/gcc-railway |title = GCC Railway &#124; Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications}}</ref>

== Airports ==
{{See also|List of airports in Bahrain}}
Bahrain has four [[airport]]s, all of which have paved runways.<ref name=":0" /> One airport is civil ([[Bahrain International Airport]]) and three are military (Isa Air Base, [[Sakhir Air Base]], and Riffa Air Base).

== Ports and harbors ==
As of 2008, Bahrain owns three [[harbor]]s in [[Manama]], [[Mina Salman]] and [[Sitrah]]. The port of Mina Salman can accommodate 16 oceangoing vessels drawing up to {{convert|11|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.

== Pipelines ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| '''Element''' || '''Pipeline distance''' || '''Year estimated'''
|-
| [[Crude oil]] || {{convert|54|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0" />|| 2013
|-
| [[Natural gas]] || {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=":0" />|| 2013
|}

== Merchant marine ==
Since 2014, Bahrain has sought to promote itself as an open register.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bahrain's Open Ship Registry |url=http://www.transportation.gov.bh/content/bahrain%E2%80%99s-open-ship-registry |publisher=[[Ministry of Transportation (Bahrain)|Ministry of Transportation]] |access-date=26 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193544/http://www.transportation.gov.bh/content/bahrain%E2%80%99s-open-ship-registry |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |language=en |date=2018}}</ref> As of 2020, there were 234 ships in Bahrain's merchant marine, of which 11 were general cargo ships, four were oil tankers, and 219 were other types of ships.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
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{{Bahrain topics}}
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[[Category:Transport in Bahrain| ]]