As things start to settle down with your move to Bahrain, it’s best to immerse yourself into the culture as soon as you can. It may seem intimidating at first, but with the installation’s resources, understanding Bahraini culture and learning easy Arabic phrases — you’ll be adjusted in no time!  

WELCOME TOUR

Contact the Fleet and Family Support Center Bahrain for information on their “Welcome Tour.” This tour is designed to introduce you to your new home. You may stop in a restaurant, visit the Mosque, see a museum and learn about shops. The goal is to show you the ins and outs of how to order food and drinks, barter with the merchants, learn about Islam and embrace the Arab culture overall.

• Many people in Bahrain drink bottled water.

• The tap water on the installation is filtered and safe to drink. 

• Restaurants are mostly open until midnight.

• Restaurants may not serve alcohol and pork due to Muslim religious practices.

Although there is no commissary on the installation, the Navy Exchange has a small section dedicated to food and household items. Additionally, the major local grocery stores are LuLu, Carrefour, Al Osra, Mega Mart and Al Jazira. 

• Many drivers in Bahrain tend to follow the traffic regulations a bit less than what we’re used to.

• Follow traffic laws and regulations as you would anywhere else in the world.

Base personnel and their dependents should follow the Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) instruction regarding clothing. If you are off the installation, you will see the local men and women dress differently than what we are used to due to local customs.

Local Men:

•     Thobe — a loose, ankle-length robe made from cotton.

•     Ghutrah — a white or white and red checkered head covering.

•     Agal — a strong cord to hold the Ghutrah in place.

Local Women:

• Abaya — a traditionally black ankle-length garment with long sleeves and a high neckline. You may also notice women wearing colorful abayas without a head cover.

•     Hijab — a religious head covering.

•     Niqab — a garment where women have their faces covered.

Acceptable Attire for you to wear:

• Ball caps, beanies, visors

• Collared shirts / casual or dress shirts that cover shoulders and midriff

• Sleeves that cover at least three inches from shoulder seam

• Skirts / dresses / shorts worn at or below the knee

• Jeans / slacks / capri pants (must not be frayed/torn)

• Running shoes / sneakers / dress shoes

• Flip-flops with leather or cloth straps, or wooden sole

ALWAYS REMEMBER

• Some may find it offensive for service members to wear traditional host nation attire.

• Uniforms are not to be worn off-installation. Items identifying you as American are also discouraged (issued back packs, command-related wear, etc).

• Clothing should be appropriate, neat, and conservative, without political / religious imagery or offensive logos / slogans.

• Personnel should always carry their ID card, but never display it in plain sight.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking, smoking and any other vices from dawn until sunset. Base personnel are not obligated to fast. However, eating or drinking in public during the day may incur fines or jail time. Please note that many restaurants, parks, stores and services may have different hours. Some five-star hotels serve food during regular hours.

Welcome to Bahrain