Gay Travel Guide to Bahrain: safety tips, bars, clubs & hotels

Bahrain is renowned for being the playground for people living in Saudi Arabia. 

This small island nation is linked to the mainland of the Arabian peninsula by a 15-mile causeway. It is renowned for being one of the more lax places in the Arab World: alcohol is available to buy here (unlike most places in the Arabia peninsula) and every vice under the sun that is considered haram (forbidden/illegal) in Saudi Arabia is unofficially available in Bahrain – such as gambling and prostitution. Hence why Bahrain has developed a reputation for being a place for hedonism.

And unlike almost all countries in the Arab World (except Jordan), it doesn’t have an anti-gay law! That’s not to say we should all hop on a plane and expect a Bahrain WorldPride-type holiday, simply a nod to the fact that when compared to its neighbors, Bahrain is slightly ahead of the pack when it comes to LGBTQ laws and certainly a place we’d rate as one of the more gay friendly Arab countries.

Here’s my personal take on what a weekend of Bahrain debauchery looks like. I’ll be honest, I wanted to visit Bahrain as part of my quest to visit every country in the world. Seby who doesn’t share this feat decided to sit this one out and save himself for a more queer-friendly destination to explore together!

Fast Facts on Bahrain

Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands and islets. It is nicknamed the Pearl of the Middle East because of its world-famous highly prized pearls. Bahrain means ‘two waters’ in Arabic, a reference to the unique mix of salty and fresh water on its shores, and the reason behind its unique high-quality pearls.

The pearl industry was huge in Bahrain…until oil fields were discovered and subsequently became the nation’s main source of income. 

The capital city is called Manama. It is super modern with a mix of old traditional souks (markets) set against the backdrop of skyscrapers and high-end hotels.

Gay rights in Bahrain

There are zero progressive LGBTQ+ laws in Bahrain, which is the case among all countries in the Arab World. However, unlike almost all other Arab nations, Bahrain does not have an anti-gay law. The government got rid of it in 1976.

Whilst this does not make Bahrain a gay playground by any stretch of the imagination, it does mean that you’re more likely to connect with LGBTQ+ locals here than other places on the peninsular as well as being able to find queer-friendly spaces. 

Is Bahrain safe for gay travelers?

The short answer is ‘Yes, but…!’

Following our traumatic experience of getting blacklisted in Lebanon, I have been terrified each time I am about to pass the Airport Immigration Police in an Arab Country. In Bahrain, I got in and out without any problems at all. I was cautious not to post anything about the country before and during my trip, and Seby arranged for this website to be blocked in Bahrain during this period just in case.

The hotel I stayed in had no problems with overnight visitors, they simply asked for ID for the safety of guests. Bahraini LGBTQ+ locals I connected with told me that most hotels in the country won’t have an issue with hosting a gay couple, particularly the big brands.

Invaluable safety tips for gay travelers to Bahrain

There are a few practical safety precautions that gay travelers to Bahrain should consider:

• Avoid all public displays of affection with people of the same gender. Save this for the privacy of your hotel room.
• Unless staying in a hotel you know welcomes gay travelers, book a room with 2 single beds (whether it is 2 queen beds or one king bed and a twin). However, this is more relevant if booking a homestay in a local guesthouse. Most big brand hotels will be absolutely fine with two men sharing a double bed in Bahrain.
• Be careful with who you hang out with, especially when meeting people on Grindr. Insist on a quick video call first to verify their identity. 
• Take care with what you post online before and during your trip, perhaps consider setting your social media channels to private if posting anything that is blatantly gay.

Is it safe to use Grindr in Bahrain?

Grindr is not blocked in Bahrain: it does not fall under The Grindr Naughty List! I used it without any problems. Interestingly, the area I stayed in the center was dominated by profiles of transgender females looking for new clients.

Most profiles were faceless or just a bare torso as people are keen to protect their privacy online in Bahrain. To avoid fake profiles or other issues when using Grindr, we recommend these vital safety tips when using gay dating apps. In particular:

• Always ask for a face pic
• Ask for a quick live video chat to verify his identity
• If feeling insecure insist on meeting in a public space first
• Ask for his social media handles if he has any
• Follow your gut reaction at all times: if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is!

Where should you stay in Bahrain?

When it comes to searching for gay friendly hotels in Bahrain, your best bet is one of the large hotel brands. Most of them are in the Juffair neighborhood, an area that is the most international, dominated by high-end restaurants, hotels, and expats.

The most gay friendly 5-star luxury hotels in Bahrain include the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa, and Address Beach Resort Bahrain. 

I stayed at the mid-range Crystal Palace Hotel, a large building that also houses a restaurant, nightclub, and spa. I would recommend it for the price and ease of inviting guests inside, but the restaurant is dingy and the nightclub means you’ll need earplugs until the early hours. 

Are there any gay bars or clubs in Bahrain?

There are no gay clubs or gay bars in Bahrain! There is no gay area in the country, nor any gay Pride events. However, when I asked locals if they knew of any queer-friendly spaces, perhaps where they may feel comfortable expressing PDAs with their same-sex partner, a few places were suggested:

Torino Lounge: also a steakhouse and a popular spot for cocktails. It was the only place identified as being remotely queer-friendly by locals, however, that does not make it a ‘gay’ venue by any stretch of the imagination.

Likwid: located in the city center, popular with Bahraini artists and their friends. It’s a spot that Reddit readers recommended to me to check out.

Club Wrangler: the most famous club in Bahrain, located in the Juffair area. Not gay by any stretch of the imagination but attracts a liberal crowd of young locals and expats.

Hotel bars: hotel bars attract a more international crowd and will therefore be more tolerant. The Blue Moon Lounge on the 50^th Floor of the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay Hotel is one to check out. Also, I found the Crystal Palace Hotel nightclub to be relaxed, however, the crowd was mainly older men with young ladies wearing very little…so I didn’t stay long.

Traveling with PrEP and HIV medication to Bahrain

I traveled to Bahrain with my PrEP pills in hand and had no problems at all getting in or out. 

Unlike other destinations in the Middle East, Bahrain does not have any restrictions on traveling with PrEP or HIV medication.

What are the best things to do in Bahrain?

The main thing to note, Bahrain is not a walking-friendly city. It’s mostly hot/humid outside. The cars dominate. So, you’ll be relying on Uber here unless you arrange a taxi from your hotel.

That being said, Bahrain offers a few interesting sites to check out:

• The Manama Souq: the oldest souk in the country and also the main one. It is framed by the twin-arched Bab Al Bahrain building. I loved just getting lost in the tight messy roads here. It’s also the place to come to get your I Love Bahrain tea towel, Habibi coaster, and obligatory fridge magnet.
• Al Fateh Grand Mosque: no trip to an Islamic country is complete without visiting the country’s main mosque. It was built on reclaimed land in 1984 and is massive – it’s the largest building in the country, housing up to 7,000! It’s allegedly one of the largest mosques in the world. 
• Bahrain Fort: one of the country’s UNESCO-listed sites initially built by the Portuguese. I loved the pretty café nearby – sitting outside I faced the Fort and was able to enjoy it with coffee and almond croissant to hand.
• Bahrain National Museum: explores the Kingdom of Bahrain’s 4,000-year history over 9 halls.
• The Pearling Path: another UNESCO-listed site in Bahrain. This is a 3.5km path through ancient streets of Muharraq once the heart of the country’s booming pearl industry. 
• Beit Al Quran: Quran museum featuring a Quran from each century including miniature Qurans.
• Tree of Life: located in the middle of Bahrain in the Arabian Desert planted in 1582 with no obvious surrounding water source. It is believed its roots go down so deep to reach an unknown freshwater source. 
• Al-Dar Beach: Bahrain has its share of beautiful beaches, and Al-Dar is one of them. You can reach it via a 25-minute Uber ride.
• Hawar Island: further afield, this tropical island is worth checking out although it requires taking a short flight from Manama Airport to reach it.

What are the best foods to try in Bahrain?

Bahraini food fascinated me because I’d never heard of it before. There are some unique things to try here, a mix of Middle Eastern with Asian:

• Machboos: the National Dish – a spiced rice dish with cinnamon, clove and black lime
• Khabees: dates
• Rangena: coconut cake
• Harees: ground wheat + meat slowly cooked
• Muhammar: sweet rice + dates + grilled fish
• Chai: saffron-induced chai
• Khabeesa: a saffron-infused semolina pudding made with caramelized sugar and cardamom, usually served with date syrup and toasted pine seeds
• Mahyawa: tangy sauce made from fermented fish, also popular in Iran.
• Quzi: slowly cooked lamb dish with rice, roasted nuts, and raisins, also the national dish of Iraq.
• Zalabia: donuts with honey, which in Greek culture we call loukoumades.

Is it moral for gay travelers to visit Bahrain?

Why are you promoting gay travel to Bahrain if it’s so anti-LGBTQ+?

The short answer is we are not. We have published this article to help gay travelers who are already visiting and seeking out practical info for their trip.

Having said that we believe it is unhelpful to ‘boycott’ countries because of their stance on LGBTQ+ rights. It’s much more productive to go there and support any gay friendly/gay owned businesses and connect with the local LGBTQ+ community and share their voices (carefully and safely of course).

We also feel that in every Arab country, you really must travel as a human being, not as a gay traveler. This is not the place to come and put your gay foot forward. For some (like my Seby) this is unacceptable and will avoid it. And that’s fine. 

For others, like me, who are super curious and want to visit every place on our planet we can do so in a way to have a positive impact on our community.

Before you go

We've put together our best travel tips to help you plan your vacation in Bahrain. This is everything the gay traveler should know before going to Bahrain.

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

For more inspiration:

• Get the lowdown on what we rate to be the most gay friendly Arab countries
• Contrast this to what we think are the most gay friendly countries in the world
• As well as the most gay friendly cities in the world
• Read what gay travel in Iran is like
• Use our guide to gay Lebanon to research your trip in more detail
• Read what we think are the best Pride events in the world
• For Pride outfits, get inspired with our guide to the best outfits and accessories for Pride events

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