Bahrain Weather and Climate

Geographical location

According to COUNTRYAAH, the Kingdom of Bahrain belongs to an archipelago with a large main island and another 32 smaller islands. However, almost 92% of the country is desert with low lying, rocky and sandy plains.

Coastal salt marshes are common in the central and southern areas, there are no significant rivers or lakes. The Persian Gulf is the lowest point in the country and extensive coral reefs cover the northern part of the island. Inland there is an embankment called Jabal ad Dukham, at 122 meters it is the highest point in Bahrain.

The remaining islands include in particular Umm als Sabaan, Nabih Saleh and Jidda Island. Freshwater springs and date palms border the landscape of Nabih Saleh, while Jidda’s rocky terrain is home to a state prison that has been converted into a resort town. The remaining uninhabited islands serve as nesting sites for migratory birds.

Bahrain’s total land area is slightly larger than that of Singapore. Saudi Arabia lies to the west across the Gulf of Bahrain while the Qatar peninsula lies to the east. The King Fahd Causeway, 15 miles long, connects Bahrain with Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain itself is located in one of the most important oil-producing regions in the world and has only small oil reserves. Instead, the economy has long relied on the processing of crude oil from neighboring countries, and recently the areas of finance, commercial services and communications, as well as tourism, have grown rapidly.

Arabic is the official language. However, English is widely spoken and a compulsory second language in all schools. Persian is also common, although it is mainly spoken at home. A number of other languages ​​are spoken among expats in Bahrain, including Urdu, Hindi, and Tagalog.

The population is predominantly Muslim and includes both Sunni and Shiite groups, with the latter being in the majority. The ruling family and many of the wealthier and more influential Bahraines are Sunni, and this difference has been a source of political and social tension. Christians make up about half of the remaining fifth of the population, with the remainder made up of Jews and Hindus.

• Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Bahrain.

Climate in Bahrain

The location and geography lead to year-round warm temperatures. The climate can be categorized as warm and humid and subtropical, Bahrain has a very high humidity all year round. The weather is also determined by two winds that come either from the northwest (“Shamāl”) or from the large Arabian desert Rub-Al-Chali with dry and very hot south winds.

There is hardly any significant rainfall in the region. If it rains at all, it will be in the form of short light showers between December and April. However, there are at most a few drops that do not impose any restrictions on travelers. The winters in Bahrain are mild, while the summers are very hot.

July to the beginning September is midsummer with daily temperatures of around 38 degrees in the shade, often above 40 degrees. The Bahraini summers are rather uncomfortable for Europeans, as the great heat often meets high humidity. Summer nights are muggy and humid.

When is the best time to visit Bahrain?

In general, the Kingdom of Bahrain can be visited all year round, although the high temperatures in midsummer can be perceived as uncomfortable for Europeans. Even construction work is shifted to the hours after sunset during this time, as the midday heat can be enormous. Good for those who can relax by the pool at this time and refresh themselves.

We therefore recommend mid- February to mid- May and the end of September to mid-December as the best travel time for Bahrain. Midsummer is certainly suitable for a pure beach holiday without activities, but we recommend excursions at this time only in an air-conditioned vehicle and in the evening hours. Also make sure that there is sufficient water supply.

Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Muharrak (Bahrain)

	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daytime temperature	20 ° C	21 ° C	25 ° C	29 ° C	34 ° C	36 ° C	38 ° C	38 ° C	37 ° C	33 ° C	28 ° C	22 ° C
Night temperature	14 ° C	15 ° C	18 ° C	22 ° C	26 ° C	29 ° C	30 ° C	31 ° C	29 ° C	26 ° C	21 ° C	16 ° C
Water temperature	19 ° C	18 ° C	23 ° C	27 ° C	27 ° C	27 ° C	29 ° C	32 ° C	27 ° C	27 ° C	25 ° C	24 ° C
Precipitation in mm	15	16	14	10	1	0	0	0	0	1	4	11
Hours of sunshine	7	8	8	9	10	11	11	11	10	10	9	7
Sunrise	6:25	6:15	5:50	5:15	4:50	4:45	4:55	5:10	5:25	5:35	5:55	6:15
Sunset	17:05	17:30	17:45	18:00	18:15	18:30	18:35	18:15	17:45	17:10	16:50	16:50

Temperatures

The average annual temperature in Muharrak is 26.5 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is August (34.2 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 17.2 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Muharrak is 32 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 17 ° C. Bathing is then possible to a limited extent. All except January and February have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.

Precipitation

The annual precipitation is 72 mm. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in Muharrak.

Sunshine

As our climate table shows, June is the sunniest month with an average of 11.3 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year the sun shines 9.2 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.

Cities nearby

The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Al-Chubar, Manama, Dhahran and Riffa.

Sights & attractions

Less than five minutes’ drive from the elegant Bahraini International Airport is one of the island’s oldest archaeological sites. Arad Fort isn’t as big or as famous as the nearby Bahrain Fort, but that’s exactly why Arad is worth the trip. As a visitor, you will often be the only person there inside the fortress so that the story can be recorded without being interrupted.

The Tree of Life, which is 10 meters high, has no visible water source and amazes visitors and scientists alike. Nevertheless, he continued to grow without water. Although the mesquite tree is known to hold plenty of water in its massive root system, there is still no water source in sight. Even dry vegetation needs water to survive, which makes the Bahraini Tree of Life even more mysterious. The biggest annual event is the F1 Grand Prix race, which takes place every April at the Bahrain International Circuit. Plan well in advance as flights sell out quickly and hotel prices multiply.