ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Business people should wear suits and ties or suits. Personal contacts and recommendations play a decisive role in the process. Great importance is attached to polite conversation. Bargaining is common and verbal agreements are binding. Business trips are best placed between October and April.
Business hours: Usually Sa-Wed 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., Thu 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some offices are also open Mon-Thu 8 am-3.30pm.
Authorities: Sat-Wed 7 a.m.-2.15 p.m.
Economy
Arab-German Association for Trade and Industry eV
Garnisonkirchplatz 1, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 278 90 70.
Internet: www.ghorfa.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
PO Box 248, Manama
Tel: 22 95 55.
Internet: http://www.bahrainchamber.org.bh/
Business contacts
Arab-German Association for Trade and Industry eV
Garnisonkirchplatz 1, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 278 90 70.
Internet: www.ghorfa.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
PO Box 248, Manama
Tel: 22 95 55.
Internet: http://www.bahrainchamber.org.bh/
COMMUNICATION
Phone
International direct dialing to over 204 countries. According to aristmarketing, Bahrain has one of the most modern international telecommunications networks in the Gulf region. There are no area codes. Card phones are now more common than pay phones. Blue telephone boxes are operated with coins, telephone boxes with card operation are red, silver telephone boxes accept cards and coins. Telephone cards are available in values of 500, 200, 200, 50 and 25 dinars. Reduced telephone rates apply Mon-Thu 7 p.m.-7 a.m. and Fri all day.
Cellphone
GSM 900. The main network operator is the Bahrain Telecommunication Company (BATELCO) (Internet: www.batelco.com.bh). Cell phones can be rented from BATELCO on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. There is also Vodafone (Internet: www.mtc-vodafone.com.bh/MTCIM/webportal/homepage) in Bahrain.
Internet
Main providers include BATELCO (Internet: www.batelco.com.bh), GCC Online (Internet: www.gcconline.com) and Inet (Internet: www.inet.com.bh/). Internet cafes can be found in Manama and other cities.
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes around 3-4 days. The main post office is in Manama. Opening times: Sat – Thu 7 a.m. – 7.30 p.m. Reliable international courier services are available. Delivery within one day.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
The choice ranges from 5, 4 and 3-star hotels to cozy family hotels and 1-star accommodations. Luxury hotels offer a high international standard, the larger hotel chains such as Le Meridien, Sheraton, Hilton etc. are represented. Free airport transfers can be arranged by 5 and 4 star hotels on request. Information on package deals from the Bahrain Tourism Company (see addresses).
CULINARY
Regional specialities
- Machbous:Steamed fish or meat with rice.
- Muchammar:Sweet, brown rice with sugar or dates.
- Baba ghanoush:smoked eggplant, mashed garlic, yogurt and sesame paste.
- Shawarma:Lamb or chicken cut from a rotating skewer and served in flat bread.
- Sambousa:Crispy baked goods filled with meat, cheese, sugar or nuts.
Useful information
Outside the fasting month of Ramadan, alcohol (including the grape and aniseed Arak) is served to non-Muslims in night clubs, good restaurants and luxury hotels. Drinking alcohol in public outside these facilities is prohibited by law.
Tip
If the tip is not included in the bill, 10% is appropriate. Taxi drivers and porters also expect 10%.
Regional drinks
Strong Arabic coffee and tea are offered everywhere.
Minimum age for consuming alcoholic beverages
In Bahrain, the minimum age for consuming alcohol is 18 years.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
Bahrain offers a diverse nightlife. Most of the larger hotels offer live music and dance in the evenings, with jazz or piano music often played. There are cinemas in the larger cities that show films in English and Arabic.
In the capital Manama, nightlife means above all meeting friends in one of the many excellent restaurants that can be found in the Adliya district in particular. TimeOut Bahrain magazine regularly publishes a list of the most popular restaurants. Another popular evening activity is visiting one of the many bazaars (souks) that exist in Manama and which are often open late into the night.
There are also some hip nightclubs in Manama, most of which are in the Juffair district. Often a mixture of Arabic hits, house, R’n’B, hip-hop and even samba is played. Sometimes internationally known DJs also perform. Information on events and live shows is published in the Nitelife section of Bahrain This Month magazine and in English language newspapers.
Manama also has a lot to offer culturally: The Bahrain International Exhibition Center (Internet: www.bahrainexhibitions.com) hosts traditional music concerts, and internationally renowned artists often perform in the large five-star hotels. On the premises of the Riffa Golf Club (Internet: theroyalgolfclub.com) you can improve your handicap even at night.
