Definitive Bahrain Off Limits Area Map

Such a useful map. Thanks for posting this. I will include this to the guide at some point. In the meantime, it's useful to remind people that this advice is mainly for the US soldiers and navy. They have certain restrictions when it comes to travel for their safety etc.

brightonguy wrote:

Such a useful map. Thanks for posting this. I will include this to the guide at some point. In the meantime, it's useful to remind people that this advice is mainly for the US soldiers and navy. They have certain restrictions when it comes to travel for their safety etc.

I totally agree with you,

I think it is very unrealistic. Places are blocked out in red that are totally safe. I think people should just drive around in the day, see for themselves and make their own mind up.

Burnt roads, black bins and lots of vandalism means a rough area so avoid it. Not rocket science really

Josnuggles wrote:

I think it is very unrealistic. Places are blocked out in red that are totally safe. I think people should just drive around in the day, see for themselves and make their own mind up.

Burnt roads, black bins and lots of vandalism means a rough area so avoid it. Not rocket science really

You are right

I totally agree with you

I drive around Bahrain quite a bit and can tell you most of the areas in red are fairly safe to drive around, work and even live in. 

The US Embassy does go a little over the top with its "warnings" at times. Hence I would use this map with a pinch of salt.

Farhaz wrote:

I drive around Bahrain quite a bit and can tell you most of the areas in red are fairly safe to drive around, work and even live in. 

The US Embassy does go a little over the top with its "warnings" at times. Hence I would use this map with a pinch of salt.

You are right

let's say that this map was maybe valid during the worst period of troubles in Bahrain

That being said, if you want my honest to god advice,

those areas marked in red although are OK most of the time, but believe me, during scheduled demonstrations you don't want to be there.

good luck

I agree that it's a bit over the top and typical of the US Embassy to be over over cautious and this should be taken with a pinch of salt.  We had an American friend here who took this so literally he refused to visit the expat clubs because they were within the so called "danger zone".

Having said that, I live in the "safe zone" - good old Janabiya - love it

On a normal day, these zones are fine but when there is a demonstration, despite them being mostly peaceful, you still wouldn't want to be stuck in traffic or be face to face with burning tyres in front of your car and try finding your way around it.

brightonguy wrote:

On a normal day, these zones are fine but when there is a demonstration, despite them being mostly peaceful, you still wouldn't want to be stuck in traffic or be face to face with burning tyres in front of your car and try finding your way around it.

I think you've hit the nail on the head

thanks

Nawafo wrote:

I think you've hit the nail on the head

Sounds painful 

Farhaz wrote:

Nawafo wrote:

I think you've hit the nail on the head

Sounds painful 

Yes indeed it is

Greetings All,

New to this site, and very much appreciate the info.  My BF and I are considering jobs with a company that will be headquartered in Bahrain.  This info (map) is very helpful, thank you. 

Dana

You are most welcome.

glad you found it useful..

StellaofMaris wrote:

Greetings All,

New to this site, and very much appreciate the info.  My BF and I are considering jobs with a company that will be headquartered in Bahrain.  This info (map) is very helpful, thank you. 

Dana

Please do read this entire post before concluding on any area. The map is worst case scenario for US Servicemen and therefore is not fully applicable to everyone.

Look forward to welcoming you and your friend in Bahrain.

Farhaz,

Thank you.  I understand that the map shows areas that may be fine during the day, but perhaps less so after dark...or fine for people familiar with the area, and less so for those who are not. 

I appreciate the reply, and the info,

Dana

Nawafo,

Thank you as well. 

I think the map is useful, but I hope to find my way around with someone more famiilar so I get the story that way instead of just avoiding the red zones. 

I agree with taking the map with a grain of salt - I am from Baltimore and people ask all the time about certain areas and how dangerous they are.  I drive through the "bad" parts and it is fine.  Now, lost, on foot, at night, and talking the wrong way may present some issues 

relwell wrote:

I think the map is useful, but I hope to find my way around with someone more famiilar so I get the story that way instead of just avoiding the red zones. 

I agree with taking the map with a grain of salt - I am from Baltimore and people ask all the time about certain areas and how dangerous they are.  I drive through the "bad" parts and it is fine.  Now, lost, on foot, at night, and talking the wrong way may present some issues 

Honestly .. I read your post twice, and I still can't figure out whats you opinion about the map..

I am sure it's me ..

Anyways .. thanks for your feed back

It is likely me!  Apologies, maybe I can clarify -

I think the map is very useful as a guide to get an idea of the areas, so thank you!

I am saying I would imagine things on the ground are different, and a friend who knows the island well and could show you around would be a great help.  It would be a shame not to visit an area because it touches the red if it is actually safe to travel there.

relwell wrote:

It is likely me!  Apologies, maybe I can clarify -

I think the map is very useful as a guide to get an idea of the areas, so thank you!

I am saying I would imagine things on the ground are different, and a friend who knows the island well and could show you around would be a great help.  It would be a shame not to visit an area because it touches the red if it is actually safe to travel there.

Nothing beats a local friend to show you around..

good luck and thanks

Have to be honest, i wouldn't be walking around some places in Glasgow at night and  I'm a Glaswegian..We live in Singapore and although its very safe i still wouldn't be wandering around certain areas late at night...So i guess when we get to Bahrain in June ( i know hot hot hot ), we will still use the same caution....

marydoll99 wrote:

Have to be honest, i wouldn't be walking around some places in Glasgow at night and  I'm a Glaswegian..We live in Singapore and although its very safe i still wouldn't be wandering around certain areas late at night...So i guess when we get to Bahrain in June ( i know hot hot hot ), we will still use the same caution....

Safe better than sorry.. and trust me you are not missing a lot

And yes it's pretty hot here in June

best of luck

Those red zones are not dangerous 24/7. In fact, nowhere in Bahrain is. However, when a protest occurs, those areas are likely to be affected temporarily. Some months, there are regular protests while the other months there are no protests at all. The action the security forces take when there is a protest usually includes the use of tear gas, which can be felt in the nearby areas, even if it is not in the red zone - so you can imagine how it would feel if you are in the zone.

brightonguy wrote:

... - so you can imagine how it would feel if you are in the zone.

Oh yeah... 
Had that experience a few times.

But I agree. Generally most parts of Bahrain are safe.

I also agree with what has been said.  Wherever you live, wherever in the world nowhere is 100% safe and at the end of the day you have to take responsibility for your own safety.

I can honestly say in 2 1/2 years of living in Bahrain, visiting friends in different locations, I have only seen anything resembling "trouble" once (youths chucking rocks at passing cars in broad daylight) and have encountered tear gas only a handful of times and never around my home.

Yes things get lively on occasion but the communication here is great so you know where and when to avoid things - this weekend for example is not the best time to decide to go look at the old Pearl Roundabout site

The map is ok as a guide but you should not let it rule your life.  Again and no disrespect to our US friends but they do tend to overreact - I have friends who will not set foot anywhere in the red zones and who have 2 months worth of food stocked in their cupboards and do not drink fresh milk so they can have that yukky UHT stuff just in case!!!  This is not a war zone people 

I want to make it clear that, in general Bahrain is safe place to work and live in, however, if you are just visiting or newly arrived, use this map as an initial guide, to avoid being bothered.  Once you are used to being in Bahrain, you won’t need this map at all.  and beleive me, you will love Bahrain

This map is very helpful.  I know it is not definitive, but I am a female and will be staying in Bahrain alone for several days.  My BF is an engineer working in Saudi.  He will visit me in Bahrain, as I cannot go into Saudi with our situation.  This map helps me to be cautious.  I've been all over the world, sometimes with others and sometimes alone.  More information is always good.

My BF is also retired US Navy Reserves 🇺🇸.  Yes, the map is what they are told to go by.  He goes into other areas as a expat working in Saudi, but he does not want me going into those areas alone.  We go to the US Naval base in Bahrain, but I do want to be able to get out and see things.

thanks for posting this. I now know the best places to hang out to avoid running into any scared Navy SEALS who need to be told where not to go.

Joking aside, this is a perfect map to show you where to visit if you want to see the real Bahrain... at least from my experience. Some of my favourite areas, full of character and hospitable people who live real lives.

I've seen this map on numerous occasions and frankly pay it scant regard. We have lived in Bahrain for 3+ years and stay in Abu Saiba, which according to the map is a definite no-go area, surrounded by similar no-go areas, however we have never experienced any problems whatsoever.

Sure things can get inconvenient when the "boys come out to play" and shutdown Budaiya Highway with burning tyres around Country Mall r/about, but so long as you use a bit of common sense and avoid those areas where you know demonstrations are planned to take place, Bahrain is as safe as most places these days. I work in Khobar and commute daily and used to have to visit Riyadh every week for a couple of days at a time and I can tell you, I felt a whole lot more uncomfortable and unsafe there than I do in Bahrain.

by way of illustration, a colleague of mine once found himself stranded at a junction where molotov cocktails were being thrown on one side at armoured police on the other. Oil on the road prevented him from moving. With his tyres spinning, the molotov throwing locals came to his car, apologised and helped to push him to a place with better traction.

Perfectly safe.

I heard of something similar. A guy was driving down a skinny alley in Juffair and rolled up on protesters/police. He couldn't back his car out the alley and when someone finally noticed the obliviously foreign dude, people on both sides basically started calling a time out so he could gtfo of there.

I always tell my friends back home I don't have a horse in that race and so no one really cares what I do or where I am.

Well, my BF proposed on Sunday, so I will be moving to Saudi instead of staying in Bahrain.  Much to do on Passport, Visa, etc.