Passport Island
Native name: جزيرة الملك فهد | |
|---|---|
Signboard displayed while heading into Bahrain through the Saudi customs, 2023 | |
King Fahd Passport Island Location of King Fahd Passport Island in Bahrain | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Gulf of Bahrain |
| Coordinates | 26°11′02″N 50°19′26″E / 26.184°N 50.324°E |
| Archipelago | Bahrain |
| Adjacent to | Persian Gulf |
| Area | 0.88 km2 (0.34 sq mi) |
| Length | 2.5 km (1.55 mi) |
| Width | 0.6 km (0.37 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Governorate | Northern Governorate |
| Largest settlement | Border Station (pop. 10) |
| Region | Eastern Province |
| Demographics | |
| Demonym | Bahraini |
| Population | 10 (2016) |
| Pop. density | 11/km2 (28/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Bahraini, non-Bahraini |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| ISO code | BH-14 |
| Official website | www |
King Fahd Passport Island, or simply Passport Island, is an artificial island partitioned between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the Gulf of Bahrain. Spread across 2.5 km (1.6 mi), it serves as the sole border crossing between the two countries and is used for connecting Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province to Bahrain's Northern Governorate through the King Fahd Causeway.[1]
History
The King Fahd Causeway opened in 1986 and included the building of the artificial island. Its route was chosen as the shortest path between the island of Bahrain and mainland Saudi Arabia. It is named after King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, then ruler of Saudi Arabia. Initial planning started in 1981 when the Minister of Finance in Saudi Arabia and the Minister of Industrial Development in Bahrain signed an agreement to finance the border crossing between the two states.[2]
Geography
The island is located on the King Fahd Causeway. The artificial island is also named Middle Island, Embankment 4.[3] The buildings of King Fahd Causeway Authority and other government Directorates were erected on the Border Station, as well as two mosques, two Coast Guard towers and two 65-metre-high (213 ft) tower restaurants. The border station also has extensive landscaping all around the islands in addition to the services and road stations.[1] The Border Station was designed as two islands connected by an isthmus, with the west side designated as Saudi Arabian and the east as Bahraini.[4]
The inhabitants on the island are engaged in Ministry duties for incoming citizens and visitors to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The Saudi side of the border station has outlets of McDonald's and Kudu and the Bahraini side of the border station has a McDonald's outlet.[1]
Image gallery
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Bahrain Map and the King Fahd Causeway
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District Map
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The King Fahd Causeway as seen from space
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View of the causeway, facing east.
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The causeway from the Bahrain side, leading to Saudi mainland.
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The bridge leading to Bahrain.
References
- ^ a b c Jennings, Ken (17 October 2016). "Passport Island: Mosques, McDonald's, and Bahrain's Only Land Border". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ "The King Fahd Causeway is officially open, it helps to stimulate a link between Saudi Arabi and Bahrain". Famous Daily. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ "The 5 Shortest International Borders in the World". Explanders. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ "المؤسسة العامة لجسر الملك فهد" (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2025.