Bahrain
Travel Destination – Bahrain
Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Arabian Gulf, combining ancient archaeological sites with modern Gulf city life. Once the centre of the 5,000-year-old Dilmun civilisation, Bahrain's history can be explored at the UNESCO-listed Qal'at al-Bahrain and along the Pearling Path in Muharraq.
In Manama, the Bahrain National Museum, Bab Al Bahrain Souq and Al Fateh Grand Mosque offer insights into the country's history and culture. Beyond the capital, visitors can see the Tree of Life in the desert or visit the Bahrain International Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Healthcare in Bahrain is generally of a high standard, but travellers should still prepare thoroughly before departure.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Seeing a travel doctor four to six weeks before departing for Bahrain is the recommended approach for Australian travellers to ensure thorough health preparation. A consultation allows your vaccination history to be reviewed, any outstanding immunisations to be identified, and personalised advice to be given, particularly if you are planning contact with camels, visiting rural or desert areas, or have underlying health conditions that may be relevant to travel in a hot Gulf climate.
All prescription medications should be brought from Australia in sufficient quantities. A small personal first aid kit is sensible for any travel, and sun protection appropriate for the intense Gulf heat should be packed for outdoor excursions.
Insect avoidance
Sandflies capable of transmitting leishmaniasis are present in parts of the Arabian Peninsula including Bahrain, particularly in semi-rural and desert environments. A risk of insect and tick-borne diseases exists in some areas of the broader Western Asia region.
Insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin applied to exposed skin during outdoor activities, particularly in the evenings when sandflies are most active, provides appropriate protection. Wearing long-sleeved clothing and trousers in the cooler evening hours adds a physical barrier.
Food and water hygiene
Bahraini cuisine combines Gulf seafood, machboos, halwa, fresh flatbreads, hummus and mezze, reflecting the country's long history as a crossroads between the Arab world and spice-producing regions of the East.
Gastroenteritis is a moderate travel health risk in Bahrain, including in some hotel accommodation. Tap water is generally treated and sourced from desalination, but bottled water from sealed containers is the more cautious choice. Wash your hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet. Freshly prepared, hot food carries the lowest risk, and care with cold, buffet-style, or pre-prepared dishes from informal settings is sensible. Raw salads, if eaten at all, should be from reputable establishments.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Bahrain?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a liver infection acquired through food or water contaminated with the virus, causing fatigue, nausea, and jaundice. Vaccination is recommended for unvaccinated travellers one year old or older visiting Bahrain. Although food safety in established Manama restaurants and hotels is good, contamination can occur in a variety of settings regardless of venue, making vaccination a worthwhile and lasting safeguard. Two doses provide durable long-term protection, and many Australians have not completed the course.
Typhoid
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Typhoid fever is a bacterial illness caused by Salmonella Typhi in contaminated food or water, producing sustained fever, headache, and abdominal discomfort that can progress without antibiotic treatment. Vaccination is recommended for most travellers, particularly those visiting smaller establishments, those eating more broadly beyond major restaurants and hotels, those staying with local families, and those planning extended visits. Food and water hygiene remains an important complement to vaccination throughout the stay.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus causing fever, cough, and a characteristic spreading rash, with serious complications possible. Cases are rising globally, and all Australian travellers born in 1966 or later should hold two documented MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) doses before departure. Those whose vaccination status is uncertain can confirm it with a travel doctor.
Routine vaccinations
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Preparing for a trip to Bahrain is a timely reminder to check that all standard immunisations are current, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, and polio. A tetanus booster is advisable if more than ten years have elapsed since the last dose. Influenza vaccination is worth considering given that Bahrain follows a northern hemisphere seasonal pattern, with influenza activity typically from November through to April. COVID-19 vaccination should be current in line with Australian public health guidance, including booster doses for those aged 65 and over or with relevant underlying health conditions.
Bahrain
Other health risks in Bahrain
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis, otherwise called travellers' diarrhoea is the health complaint most commonly encountered by visitors to Bahrain. A moderate risk of gastrointestinal illness exists throughout the country.
Bacteria, viruses, and parasites in contaminated food and water produce diarrhoea, nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting within one to three days of exposure. Oral rehydration is the primary treatment for uncomplicated cases, and medical assessment should be sought if symptoms are severe, contain blood, or are accompanied by fever.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial lung infection transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs or speaks in a shared space, causing persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. The risk to short-stay tourists in Bahrain is relatively low. Travellers spending extended periods in the country, working in healthcare settings, or in close ongoing contact with expatriate or local communities in more crowded settings face a somewhat higher level of exposure.
A cough that persists after returning from Bahrain should be assessed by a general practitioner with travel history disclosed.
MERS-CoV
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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a viral respiratory illness that can spread to people from infected camels, or between people through close contact. Bahrain, as a country in the Arabian Peninsula, is one of the geographic regions associated with MERS-CoV. The overall risk to travellers is low, but contact with camels, including touching them, riding them, or consuming raw camel milk or camel products, should be avoided. Thorough handwashing after any animal contact and during routine hygiene throughout the visit is the most practical protective measure. No vaccine against MERS-CoV is currently available. Travellers who develop fever and respiratory symptoms during or after a visit to Bahrain should seek medical assessment and disclose any animal contact to their treating doctor.
Leishmaniasis
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Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection transmitted through the bites of infected sandflies, which are present in parts of Bahrain and the broader Arabian Peninsula, particularly in desert and semi-rural environments.
The cutaneous form, causing persistent skin ulcers, is the most likely type to be encountered by travellers. There is no preventive vaccine or medication for leishmaniasis. Insect repellent use in the evenings, wearing long-sleeved clothing in outdoor rural settings, and using fine-mesh bed nets in accommodation without reliable screening reduce sandfly exposure. Any slow-healing skin sore appearing after travel to Bahrain should be assessed by a doctor with travel history disclosed.
Leptospirosis
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Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria, which are spread through water or soil contaminated with urine from infected animals. In Bahrain, exposure is uncommon but may occur through contaminated water or wet soil, particularly after heavy rainfall or flooding.
Symptoms can include sudden fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, nausea and vomiting. Severe infection can affect the kidneys, liver or brain. Avoid contact with potentially contaminated floodwater or muddy soil where possible, cover cuts and abrasions, and seek medical attention if you develop flu-like symptoms after significant environmental exposure.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Security conditions in Bahrain can change quickly due to the wider Middle East situation. Check Smartraveller for current advice before booking and immediately before departure, as advisory levels may change at short notice.
Crime is generally low, but petty theft can occur in busy areas. Avoid demonstrations, military and government sites, and critical infrastructure, and follow instructions from local authorities during any security incident.
Consular assistance may be limited, and the nearest Australian Embassy is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Heat-related illness
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Bahrain's climate is extremely hot and humid from May through September, with temperatures regularly exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and high humidity compounding the physical burden significantly. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are genuine risks during this period for visitors who are not acclimatised to Gulf conditions.
Drinking water consistently throughout the day, limiting strenuous outdoor activity to early morning and evening hours, wearing light-coloured and breathable clothing, and applying broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors are important daily habits during the warmer months.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Road conditions and traffic flow in Bahrain are generally reasonable, with well-maintained highways and an orderly road environment by regional standards. Visitors to Bahrain may only drive hire cars, not privately owned vehicles, and traffic drives on the right. Driving practices vary and accidents do occur, and seatbelts should be worn consistently.
Ships and boats operating in Bahraini waters may not meet the safety standards familiar to Australian visitors, and water transport should be chosen carefully. Curfews on coastal waters can be declared by the government.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Flights from Australia to Bahrain route through a Gulf hub or occasionally a European connection, with total travel times typically ranging from twelve to sixteen hours depending on routing. Extended sitting during these journeys can slow venous blood flow in the legs and raise the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Moving around the cabin, performing seated leg exercises including ankle rotations and calf raises, and drinking water consistently throughout the flight all help reduce this risk. Travellers with predisposing factors including prior blood clots, recent surgery, pregnancy, hormonal contraceptive use, or significant overweight should discuss whether compression stockings are appropriate with a travel doctor before departure.