▲Bahrain SKETCH SCORE: 54/100●governments disagree by 2 advisory levels on Bahrain▪Bahrain remains at a 54/100 sketch score, but government advisories are split between level 1 and level 3, so check your specific country’s stance before booking. Watch for the active global measles notice.▲Bahrain SKETCH SCORE: 54/100●governments disagree by 2 advisory levels on Bahrain▪Bahrain remains at a 54/100 sketch score, but government advisories are split between level 1 and level 3, so check your specific country’s stance before booking. Watch for the active global measles notice.
Bahrain

Think twice.

Bahrain remains at a 54/100 sketch score, but government advisories are split between level 1 and level 3, so check your specific country’s stance before booking. Watch for the active global measles notice.

Verified Jul 12, 2026Confidence high
54Sketch Score
90-day trend

Governments, one trip

What they're telling their own citizens about Bahrain

The advisories disagree by 2 level(s) — read all four before you decide who to trust.

United States

Lv 3

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

United Kingdom

Lv 1

See FCDO advice.

Canada

Lv 3

Avoid non-essential travel

The real score

The breakdown

56advisoryConsensus
50Political Stability
53Police Trust
76Health
100Crime
90LGBTQ+

See it from your perspective

54

Think twice.

The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.

Don't fall for it

Scams to know

Hotel room burglary

Tourists have their rooms burgled despite hotels having security systems and cameras installed.

Souk petty crime

Pickpocketing and bag snatching occur in the old market areas known as souks.

Don't do this

Laws that jail tourists

Pregnancy outside marriage

Pregnant women without a marriage certificate face potential conviction.

Sharia law prohibitions

Alcohol abuse, adultery, homosexuality, and gender-unconforming clothing are prohibited under Sharia law.

Public conduct during Ramadan

Eating, drinking, and smoking in public during the day is strictly prohibited and punishable by fine or jail.

Staying healthy

What to watch out for, health-wise

Active notices

  • • Global Measles

Vaccines

Recommended:

From people who've been there

Local know-how

Staying safe

  • •During 2011, a state of near civil war broke out in Bahrain, with many deaths, hundreds of injuries, and a large number of activists and health professionals arrested and tortured.
  • •Pregnant women without a marriage certificate should consider their legal situation; pregnancy outside marriage can lead to a conviction.
  • •Islamic Sharia law applies in certain cases, including alcohol abuse, adultery (extramarital affairs) and homosexuality.
  • •Drug use is punishable up to life and penalties for possession of even small quantities of drugs are severe.
  • •While freedom of expression is often better than its neighbouring countries, that does not mean that you can make unnecessary comments - defamation of the king is a punishable offence and the local newspapers are generally pro-government.
  • •During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during the day is strictly prohibited, and offenders risk a fine or even a jail term.

Staying healthy

  • •Drink plenty of water.
  • •Though tap water is reported to be potable, bottled or boiled water is recommended for drinking.
  • •In an emergency, call .

Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.

Pack this, know this

The little things that trip people up

🔌

Plug & voltage

G · 230V

🚗

Driving side

right

🚨

Emergency

police: 999 / ambulance: 999 / fire: 999

Show the receipts (11 sources)
Printable pre-trip checklist for Bahrain →