Travel advisory · BahrainSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Bahrain.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
Also named by one government: Far south of the island (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Oct 23, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Von Reisen wird dringend abgeraten | Oct 29, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Avoid non-essential travel to Bahrain | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Déconseillé sauf raisons impératives | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
The Hawar Islands are a group of low, mostly uninhabited islands in the Gulf, off Bahrain's west coast and close to the Qatari shore. The main island gives the group its name. The archipelago is protected as a nature reserve, and most visitors see it from the water on a boat trip from Bahrain. The draw is wildlife: dugongs, sea turtles and seabirds that use the shallow waters and shores. The islands also figure in a long maritime border dispute between Bahrain and Qatar, which the International Court of Justice settled in 2001.
The islands suit a day trip for travelers interested in nature, birdwatching or Gulf history, and they give a quieter change from Manama. Plan around the heat. The cooler months, roughly November to March, are the most comfortable for time on the water, while summer heat is intense. Permits and boat access rules can change, so confirm current arrangements with the operator before you go.
Hawar Islands in five
- Check access before you book a flightHawar is a protected nature area, so visits are restricted. Ask a tour operator or the Bahrain authorities about current access before you plan the trip.Tours and tickets
- Check your Bahrain entry rulesMany passports get an eVisa or a visa on arrival, and GCC citizens enter without one. Check the rule for your passport before you fly.Visas and entry
- Set up an eSIM before you landSet up a data plan before you fly so maps and messages from your tour operator work when you land.Phones and eSIM
- Carry some dinar in cashThe Bahraini dinar (BHD) is the currency. Some small boat operators may accept only cash, so carry some before you leave the main island.Money and costs
- Carry all the water and shade you needAsk the operator what is provided on board, and pack your own water and shade for the rest.
Need to know
- Currency
- Bahraini dinar (BHD)
- Entry
- eVisa or visa on arrival for many passports; GCC citizens need no visa
- Emergency
- 999 police, ambulance and fire
- Tipping
- Optional; check the bill for a service charge
- Time
- UTC+3, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, mild sea
- FebruaryMild, breezy
- MarchWarming up
- AprilWarm, windy
- MayHeat building
- JuneVery hot
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustHot, humid
- SeptemberStill hot
- OctoberCooling, humid
- NovemberMild, pleasant
- DecemberCool evenings
Right now in Hawar Islands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
30
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 63%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Hawar Islands
01:00 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today32°29°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 32°, Low 29°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed31°28°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 31°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu32°27°0%Thursday: Clear. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri32°27°0%Friday: Clear. High 32°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat33°26°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 33°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun34°26°0%Sunday: Clear. High 34°, Low 26°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 12:26 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.376 BHD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Manamaabout 30 to 45 min by car to the west coastBahrain's capital and the usual base for boat tours.Read the guide
- Qal'at al-Bahrainabout 20 to 30 min by car from ManamaA UNESCO site from the Dilmun period, with its ancient harbor and mound.
- Al Areen Wildlife Parkabout 30 min by car from ManamaA desert reserve with Arabian wildlife, a good contrast with the islands.
Before you go to Hawar Islands
Rules for Hawar Islands, checked
- Hawar is a protected nature area. Stay on approved routes and keep away from birds, turtles and nesting sites.
- Entry rules depend on your passport. Check the current eVisa and visa on arrival information before you fly.
- Dress modestly in towns and public places. Swimwear belongs on beaches, at pools and on the boat.
- Take nothing from a protected area. Leave shells, coral and plants where you find them.
Plan around Hawar Islands
The main island, the base for any trip to Hawar.
Read the guideTours and ticketsOperators, tickets and day-trip options for Bahrain.
Read the guideVisas and entryPassport, eVisa and visa on arrival rules for Bahrain.
Read the guideMoney and costsDinar, cards and what things cost on the main island.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMSet up data before you land, not at the airport counter.
Read the guideGetting around BahrainTaxis, buses and reaching the coast from Manama.
Read the guideHawar Islands FAQ
Can you visit the Hawar Islands?
Access is restricted because the islands are a protected nature area. Confirm the current rules with the Bahrain authorities or a tour operator before you plan the trip.
Are the Hawar Islands part of Bahrain or Qatar?
Bahrain. The International Court of Justice awarded the islands to Bahrain in 2001, after a long dispute with Qatar.
How do you get to the Hawar Islands?
By boat from the Bahrain coast, arranged through an operator. Confirm departure points and crossing times directly with them before you travel.
Is there accommodation on the Hawar Islands?
No. The islands have no permanent residents and no hotels, so stay on the main island of Bahrain and go out on a day trip.
What wildlife can you see on Hawar?
The islands are protected for birds and sea turtles. Keep your distance from nesting birds and turtles, and follow the operator's instructions on the boat.