Beaches in Bahrain

Being an island, it seems only fitting for Bahrain to have a choice of beaches, public and private, for expats to go to and relax in the sun. Bahrain is known as being a liberal Gulf country; however, when it comes to public beaches, there are certain dress code restrictions. It is acceptable for men to wear long shorts to the beach. Speedos are discouraged. Women should keep covered on the public beach and wear what they would normally wear to a mall, hence keep their shoulders and knees covered. On private beaches, anything goes, except nudity, of course. Private beaches usually belong to hotels and cater to tourists, hence the lax dress code, however please respect the dress code once you leave the private beach.

Public Beaches

Al Jazair Beach
Nearby cities: Hamad Town, Durrat Al Bahrain, Manama
This is a public beach that is popular with Bahrainis, so make sure that you are appropriately dressed as not to cause offence. The beach gets really busy on Fridays and is very popular with families as it is child friendly. The only downside is that people do not discard their rubish appropriately, so the beach tends to look quite dirty. The beach is located near the F1 circuit.

Amwaj Beach
Not strictly a public beach but a lot of people go there on weekends. It’s very popular with Jet Ski lovers, so it may not be the most relaxing stretch of sand and sea!

Arad Fort Beach
Arad Fort Beach opened in 2008 to celebrate National Day. It is popular with people, especially families for picnics and barbecues, rather than actual beach activities, such as swimming and sun bathing. It is also great for stand-up paddle board when it is calm. If you are looking for something interesting to do in Bahrain, have a barbecue with views of the water and the Arad Fort. It's such a beautiful setting for a great day out. 

Hidd Beach
Located opposite Prince Khalifa bin Salman Park, the Hidd beach gives you an excellent sunset view over Juffair and Manama. Once again, it is definitely more popular for its views and serene surroundings, hence it is a perfect beach to have a barbecue in. It is not at all popular for swimming and sunbathing though.

Popular Private Beaches

Al Dar
Beach escape in Bahrain! 20 minutes drive from Manama city to Sitra Fisherman’s Port and 8 minutes by sea taxi. Call to book and check if the beach is open, as they sometimes close, depending on the weather conditions. They have the day rates, however you can book a chalet and spend the night there barbequing under the stars.
Cost: 8BD adults  (including Sea taxi)
          4BD children under 15years (Free under 5 years old)
Opening hours: 9am to 8-9pm.
Location: Sitra
Tel: +973 17 704 600 
Website: www.aldarislands.com

Bahrain Sailing Club
Located next to the Al Jazira beach, the Sailing Club has a small private beach for its members, but they do allow non-members to use the beach for a small fee. However, not everyone is allowed to use the beach, if you are coming for just the day, the beach is restricted to ladies and couples only. Bachelors will be denied entry. There are small number of Chalets to rent for the day - The chalets are BD40 for a family of four – two adults, two kids.
Cost: 3BD 
Location: Zallaq Beach
Tel: +973 17 836 078

Bahrain Yacht Club
Established over 50 years ago and situated in Sitra since 1977, the Bahrain Yacht Club today is host to the many people who share a common passion for the varied forms of sailing and water sports. Whether you are a seasoned sea dog or just keen to get your feet wet, they offer a great range of training facilities and services to meet your requirements. 
Cost: Need to be accompanied by a member for BD2. 
Location: Sitra
Tel: +973 17 700 677
Website: www.thebahrainyachtclub.com

Coral Bay
This is more of a beach club rather than a beach, with restaurant facilities, swimming pools and a bar. It is particularly popular on weekends with the younger expats in Bahrain.
Cost: BD8 weekdays, BD10 weekends and public holidays
Opening hours: 9am to 7pm
Location: Al Fateh Highway, Manama
Tel: (+973) 17 312 700
Website: www.coral-bay.net

Marina Club
This is the place where people who have boats moor them. However, it has a beach where you can go for a small fee. The Marina club is popular with the locals and the expats.
Cost: BD5
Location: Adiliya
Tel: +973 17 291 527
Website: www.marinaclub.info

Al Bander Hotel & Resort
This resort is a perfect escape and it’s equipped with chalets, a marina, a beach and pool areas. There are also plenty of water sports to be done here, including canoeing, snorkeling and banana boating. 
Cost: BD20
Location: Sitra
Tel: +973 17 701 201
Website: www.albander.com

Splashing out? Here are some pricier, popular, private beaches in Bahrain.

Novotel
This hotel's beach is open to the public on weekdays only, the weekend is strictly reserved for in house guests.
A beach day pass also allows the purchaser access to all of the hotel's facilities, not just the pool.
Cost: BD 20 - Single
          BD 25 - Couple
          BD 35 - Family (2a dults, 2 children under 12)
Location: 121 Sheikh Hamad Causeway, Manama
Tel: +97317 298 008
Website: www.novotel.com

Lost Paradise of Dilmun
This is Bahrain's only man-made beach with real beach sand and it is connected to the waterpark. 
Cost: BD17 - adults and BD8 - kids under 1.2m tall.
Opening hours: 10am to 5-6pm
Location: Al Areen, Manama
Tel: +973 17 845 100
Website: www.lpodwaterpark.com

The Ritz-Carlton Beach
This is one of the most luxurious beach resorts in Bahrain. It’s located on a private a private island between Manama Bay and city center. There are plenty of activities for both adults and kids, a pool, Turkish bath and many water sports, including kayaking, pedal boating and stand-up paddle boarding.
Cost: BD25 weekdays and BD50 weekends for adults
          BD12 weekends and BD25 weekends for children under 17
Opening hours: 5:30am to 10:30pm
Location: Bldg. 112, King Mohammed VI Ave, Block 428, Al Seef District, Manama
Tel: +973 17 580 000
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Beach Sea & Spa
Located in the heart of a natural resort, Sofitel offer you access to one of the most beautiful beaches you'll see. This is only available for couples and families. 
Cost: BD20 weekdays, BD25 weekends. 
Location, Zallaq, Manama
Tel: +973 1763 6363
Website: www.sofitel.com