Bahrain is evaluating a greenfield project to develop an international airport terminal that will replace its existing hub in the next decade, as the kingdom targets an increase in arrivals amid plans to boost tourism and air connectivity in the country.
The new airport would have a capacity of between 40 million to 50 million annual passengers and would replace the Bahrain International Airport after the existing hub reaches its maximum capacity by 2035, Mohammed Al Kaabi, Bahrain's Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, told The National on the sidelines of Routes World in Manama.
The ministry last year awarded Netherlands Airport Consultants a contract worth 541,900 Bahraini dinars ($1.4 million) to conduct a feasibility study for the greenfield airport project.
"We are studying what the future needs are for the construction of a new airport, to be located in the north of the country," Mr Al Kaabi said. "Work on this airport will start when we reach the limits of the current airport's capacity."
The maximum capacity of the existing airport is about 14 million annual passengers.
"This year we will handle about 9.5 million passengers, so we have about 15 years to plan. It is important to plan for the future and put scenarios outlining what is needed for the infrastructure," he said.
"We are also evaluating the financial model. Will the government handle the project entirely or enter into partnership with the private sector? All options are on the table."
The plans come as Bahrain seeks to develop its non-oil sectors, including aviation, tourism, hospitality and logistics, to diversify its economy from oil.
The 210,000-square-metre passenger terminal at Bahrain International Airport opened in 2021 with an investment of $1.1 billion. By the year's end, the hub will have been used by 43 airlines connecting to 65 destinations in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Far East.
Bahrain has a pipeline of more than $30 billion in investment projects focused on logistics and tourism, the country's Economic Development Board said this month.
The economy is projected to grow 3 per cent in 2024, up from 2.4 per cent last year, the Ministry of Finance said. This is driven mainly by non-oil sectors, as the government accelerates efforts to diversify its sources of revenue and economic sectors away from hydrocarbons.
Bahrain's economy expanded by 1.3 per cent annually in the second quarter of this year, led by a 2.8 per cent growth in its non-oil sector, a Ministry of Finance report said this month. The transport and storage sector was the highest growing among non-oil activities, increasing by 12.9 per cent year-on-year.
Bahrain, which is among the Gulf region's more indebted economies and smaller oil producers, has introduced reforms to make doing business easier, create more jobs and attract foreign investment to boost economic growth.
Target of 100 destinations
Bahrain International Airport aims to connect to 100 new destinations by 2026, as part of its national air connectivity plan, Mr Al Kaabi said in a speech at the Routes World event in Manama last week.
That ambition "underscores our dedication to expand our network, increase connectivity and strengthen Bahrain's position as a regional and global aviation powerhouse", he added. "This endeavour goes beyond numbers. This is about enhancing accessibility, driving economic growth and offering travellers more choices with better services."
Bahrain Airport Company is seeking to attract more airlines to the hub and is exploring new markets in the East and West, including cities in Africa and the US to be served by flag carrier Gulf Air.
So far this year, the airport operator has attracted Red Wings Airlines, Smartwings, Fly Jinnah, AJet and Azerbaijan Airlines, with plans to add five more airlines, Bahrain Airports Company chief executive Mohamed Al Binfalah told The National. The 10 airlines are expected to start operations by the end of this year, he said.
Bahrain International Airport is forecast to handle more than 10 million passengers in 2025, up from a target of 9.6 million this year, he added. The airport handled 4.6 million passengers during the first six months of 2024, an increase of 12 per cent compared to the same period last year.
It welcomed 8.7 million passengers in 2023.
The airport could have grown further were it not for the global aviation supply chain issues that have delayed plane deliveries to many airlines, reducing their capacity at a time when travel demand remains strong.
"Having the assets in place would have boosted the number of passengers that could have been served," Mr Al Binfalah said.
Gulf Air plans to expand its network by 25 per cent in the next five years, subject to the availability of jets, global supply chain issues and economic downturns, Jeffrey Goh, chief executive of Gulf Air Group Holding, told The National. It currently flies to about 60 destinations.
"That will be a substantial chunk of the progress from where we are today to the 100 destinations connectivity [plan], subject to the caveat of aircraft availability and the economic climate," he said. "But we feel confident that, all else being equal, we would be doing our part as the national aviation group in the kingdom to connect Bahrain to more parts of the world and for more parts to be connected to Bahrain."
The country this year has made "huge progress" on performance metrics related to its 2022-2026 tourism strategy, which aims to diversify the kingdom's economy, Sarah Buhiji, chief executive of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), told The National.
The tourism strategy aims to increase the total number of visitors to Bahrain for tourism to 14.1 million visitors by 2026, increase the average daily visitor spending to 74.80 Bahraini dinars and increase the average number of tourist nights in the country to 3.5.
The number of visitors rose by 25 per cent year-on-year in 2023, BTEA said, without providing overall numbers. The number of tourist nights rose 46 per cent and tourist revenue increased 32 per cent. The tourism sector's contribution to GDP was 7 per cent in 2022, as per the latest BTEA figures.
The planned single unified tourist visa for the Gulf will also help boost Bahrain's tourism arrival numbers, she said. The authority declined to provide specific targets.
"The first few years of providing the visa will be the honeymoon period, it's going to be something new and something everyone wants to explore," Ms Buhiji said.
Bahrain aims to attract tourists from source markets including the Gulf, China, UK, Germany and India, she added. Gulf Air recently launched routes to the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Air cargo village
Air cargo operations are also a vital part of the airport’s expansion plans. Bahrain is progressing on the development of the Express Cargo Village at the airport, officials said. The $30 million first phase is already operational, with major logistics players such as DHL, Aramex and FedEx among the companies based there.
"We are in the process of preparing to launch phase two. The estimated investment there is $32 million and we expect to make an announcement of that in December," Mr Al Binfalah said.
Current tenants want to expand their operations when phase two begins, with new tenants to be added. "We will be attracting a minimum of six more customers to set pace at the airport. This will be part of phase two," he said.
Once completed, the Express Cargo Village will span 250,000 square metres.
Transport projects
The kingdom is also investing billions of dollars in transport projects to improve its rail, maritime and logistics capabilities, Mr Al Kaabi said. The projects in the works include a national rail network and link with neighbouring Saudi Arabia; a metro line and projects to expand the logistics zone at Khalifa bin Salman Port.
The Gulf countries agreed to complete their railway project connecting major cities in each of the six member states by 2030. In Bahrain, the long-proposed King Hamad Causeway linking the island with Saudi Arabia is still in the feasibility study stage.
"For us in Bahrain, 2030 is not feasible because as an island we need to link through a causeway, so we are looking at the connection with Saudi Arabia, which is strategically very important," Mr Al Kaabi said. "It is important for the flow of cargo and will boost job creation and trade."
It is an "expensive project and we need to ensure it will have a return on investment, especially that it will be built by the private sector", he added.
Bahrain is also investing $2 billion in its metro lines, according to the minister. "We qualified the companies for the metro but there is no deal signed yet, we're still reviewing the project," he said.
"The study is already concluded, the routes are already designed, these are 29 kilometres and 29 stations. What we need now is to validate the route based on future urban planning. There are new towns that will be built and we need to ensure that the metro will serve not just current but also future areas."
Construction will take about five years and will begin once the study is concluded, he added, without providing dates. That investment is in addition to 24 million dinars over the next five years on public transport.
In terms of maritime projects, Bahrain is working with APM Terminals, the international maritime operator, on logistics.
"There is a strategic plan in the next five years for how we can boost and promote cargo and logistics when it comes to Khalifa bin Salman Port. We are working on two or three projects at the moment," he said.
This includes the expansion of the current logistics zone, which has been 90 per cent leased, and there is scope to make it bigger by 30 per cent, he said. Other projects include deepening the shipping channels to attract bigger vessels.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.
Eliminated after second session
11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.
Eliminated after first session
15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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EA Sports FC 24
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Dubai Creek Open in numbers
- The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
- It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
- This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
- 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
The biog
Favourite film: Motorcycle Dairies, Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday, Kagemusha
Favourite book: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Holiday destination: Sri Lanka
First car: VW Golf
Proudest achievement: Building Robotics Labs at Khalifa University and King’s College London, Daughters
Driverless cars or drones: Driverless Cars
Superliminal%20
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20One%20%26amp%3B%20X%2FS%2C%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PC%20and%20Mac%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Usain Bolt's time for the 100m at major championships
2008 Beijing Olympics 9.69 seconds
2009 Berlin World Championships 9.58
2011 Daegu World Championships Disqualified
2012 London Olympics 9.63
2013 Moscow World Championships 9.77
2015 Beijing World Championships 9.79
2016 Rio Olympics 9.81
2017 London World Championships 9.95
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
