Discover Bahrain : Sports and leisure

Bahrain offers a rich palette of leisure activities, blending tradition and modernity. Horse racing and falconry are an ancestral heritage that is still very popular. Soccer, the king of sports, rubs shoulders with cricket, golf and rugby in a sobritish atmosphere. As for thrills, the international circuit hosts the F1 Grand Prix and a few MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fights. Nature lovers can explore the desert in 4x4 or observe the wildlife in the parks and on the Hawar Islands. On the coast, scuba diving (with a submerged Boeing 747!), fishing and water sports such as jet-skiing and kitesurfing are the order of the day, especially on the beaches of Al Jazayer, Sitra and Amwaj. Finally, pearl diving lets you relive the golden age of pearls, and can even bring back a few treasures if you're lucky. In short, Bahrain offers the perfect combination of sport, adventure, nature and culture in a unique setting between desert and sea.

Traditional leisure activities

Horse racing. Although Bahrain breeds a few racing camels, which take part in competitions in Saudi Arabia, Bahrainis' passion for thoroughbred Arabians is unquestionable. As a result, horse racing is extremely popular, attracting thousands of spectators. Dozens of stables breed horses throughout the country. The season runs from November to April/May, with one or two races a month. Betting is of course prohibited.

Falconry. Falconry was once the preserve of tribes, who captured and trained the birds for a season's hunting. Today, falconry is considered a noble passion, requiring patience and skill. Traditionally, Peregrine or Saker Falcons are the most sought-after birds, and as it is forbidden to capture them in the wild, they are imported for breeding, mainly from European countries. In general, birds and small mammals are hunted. The birds can be seen at falconry competitions and cultural gatherings.

Soccer and British heritage

As in the former British colonies, sports played by the British are now part of the country's DNA. Soccer is without doubt the most popular sport in Bahrain. The national team narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2018 World Cup, and the country can count on ten professional clubs (mainly based in Manama) to train its players. The vast majority of matches are played at the Bahrain National Stadium.

Cricket is also a local favorite, with 48 local teams and a national team that has achieved some prestigious successes in international matches.

While the country is also becoming a destination for amateur and professional golfers, with the magnificent 18-hole Royal Golf Club where competitions are played regularly, rugby is favored by expatriates. They meet up at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club to tackle friends, but they also come for the third half, which takes place in the club's bar. A sobritish atmosphere!

Formula 1 Grand Prix and motor sports

Fans of speed and curves know it well: the Kingdom hosted the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in the Arab world in 2004. Since then, the Bahrain Grand Prix has been one of the highlights of the F1 season. The Bahrain International Circuit, which hosts the competition, was built in the middle of the desert. Races are held there at night.

The circuit is also regularly open to sports car enthusiasts, who can enjoy the thrill of driving sports cars on "Open Track" days! Not far away is the Bahrain International Karting Circuit, whose layout is inspired by that of the F1 circuit.

Thrill-seekers can also head off into the desert to race down the dunes in a 4x4, buggy or quad. These are often guided tours, lasting from half a day to a full day.

The assault on nature!

By 4x4, buggy or quad, but also on foot with binoculars around your neck to enjoy breathtaking wild landscapes. Bahrain's islands are almost all desert, offering exceptional panoramic views. The country's parks and reserves, such as the Al Areen Wildlife Park, as well as islands like the Hawar Islands on the Qatari border, are among the must-sees on any trip to Bahrain. In a wild setting, a desert rubs shoulders with the sea. And you'll be surprised to see so much life in such an arid expanse. Migratory birds, giant reptiles and Bahrain gazelles roam freely on the islands, undisturbed by human activity. A day's safari on the main island of Hawar is a memorable experience.

On the water and under the water, you'll be hard at work

Scuba diving. Scuba-diving enthusiasts can enjoy a unique experience, as the kingdom is home to the world's largest underwater park, Dive Bahrain. Here you can explore a submerged Boeing 747 and artificial reefs designed to promote biodiversity. Other highlights include Fifi Wreck, ideal for beginners, and the natural reefs of Abulthama, rich in coral and tropical fish. Bahrain also offers an emblematic activity: pearl diving, in homage to its past as the pearl capital. Back in the day, pearl fishermen had to snorkel for four or five minutes to collect as many oysters as possible. Nowadays, fishermen use scuba tanks, which is much simpler. But this activity has created a real craze among the descendants of the old pearl fishermen, and several amateur diving associations are listed in the country. While this new generation is not averse to picking up a few oysters from time to time, they prefer to admire the Gulf's magnificent seabed. Some travel agencies offer scuba diving sessions where you can collect pearl oysters. Any pearls you find belong to you. A trip back in time that could prove profitable!

Finally, to organize your more traditional outings, there are certified diving centers for divers of all levels. The best season is from September to May, when the sea is cooler and visibility optimal.

When it comes to water sports, the Kingdom's seafront and beaches offer a multitude of options between two swims and a lazy session: jet-skiing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding, eFoil, parasailing, kayaking, stand-up paddling... Kitesurfing and windsurfing are also very popular, particularly on Al Jazair Beach, Sitra Beach or the Amwaj Islands. Deeply rooted in local culture, fishing in the Persian Gulf offers waters teeming with fish, ideal for sea fishing. Agencies offer sport fishing trips for grouper, tuna, barracuda... In the Hawar Islands, water sports activities are also plentiful. And you can swim on the island's deserted beaches, in the company of wild gazelles and migratory birds.